Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clezio

German author Herta Mueller won the 2009 Nobel Literature Prize on Thursday for her work inspired by her life under Nicolae Ceausescu's dictatorship in Romania. The Nobel jury hailed Mueller, 56, as a writer who "with the concentration of poetry and the frankness of prose, depicts the landscape of the dispossessed." Mueller was born in a German-speaking region of Romania and fled the country two years before the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. She has been a longstanding candidate for the award which comes just ahead of the 20th anniversary of the collapse of communism. Herta Mueller: profile. The grim daily life ... Read Full Story

German author Herta Mueller won the 2009 Nobel Literature Prize on Thursday for her work inspired by her life under Nicolae Ceausescu's dictatorship in Romania. The Nobel jury hailed Mueller, 56, as a writer who "with the concentration of poetry and the frankness of prose, depicts the landscape of the dispossessed." The permanent secretary of the Swedish Academy, Peter Englund, described Mueller as "a great artist of words." Mueller was born in a German-speaking region of Romania and fled the country two years before the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. She has long been cited as a probable winner, and the award ... Read Full Story

If it's fall and the leaves are starting to turn, then it's time for the annual Nobel Prize nomination of Bob Dylan. Here's the latest : DEMANDS for the US singer-songwriter Bob Dylan to be awarded the highest prize in literature, the Nobel Prize, are growing – with one Danish professor outing herself as one of his backers in a newspaper interview. Traditionally, the reclusive and enigmatic Dylan, who has now released more than 30 albums in a career spanning nearly 50 years, is thought to be reluctant to accept awards – although over the years he has picked up many, including an Oscar. ... Read Full Story

I almost spat out my coffee this morning when I heard the news. I wasn't planning on updating the blog any further today and I'd slept in. And LOOK WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU SLEEP IN! Someone gives the dang president the dang Nobel Peace Prize for ... um ... what did he win it for? The man JUST got elected! He hasn't even been in office a year. Isn't this really the Nobel Peace Prize for "Dang, We Really, Really Hated Bush?" Either way, yeah for the prez. Yeah for us. But ... um ... what? More after the jump. Read Full Story

When Nobel committee last year selected Mr. Ahtisaari – an unofficial spokesperson of US State department and Nato – as Nobel prize Peace laureate this years selection was not surprise. The bright side is that Mr.Obama has not (hopefully yet) junked the original criteria (“to contribute to fraternity in the world, to reduce armies and [...] Read Full Story