STOCKHOLM, Oct 6: Swedish poet Tomas Transtroemer, whose simple but mystical imagery addresses themes of nature, history and death, won the 2011 Nobel Literature Prize on Thursday.
Transtroemer, 80, was honoured “because, through his condensed, translucent images, he gives us fresh access to reality,” the Swedish Academy`s jury said.
His poetry is filled with imagination and emotion, but is also riddled with the unexpected, making his work at times both disorienting and refreshing.
Scandinavia`s most famous living poet, Transtroemer has been called a master of mysticism who often presents a dream-like consciousness in which time slows to allow for dissection of the relationship between the inner self and the surrounding world.
“Most of Transtroemer`s poetry collections are characterised by economy, concreteness and poignant metaphors. In his latest collections… Transtroemer has shifted towards an even smaller format and a higher degree of concentration,” it added.
Transtroemer suffered a stroke in 1990 which affected his ability to talk.
An amateur pianist, he plays the piano every day, using his left hand, the right damaged by the stroke, and spends his mornings listening to classical music.
He was listening to music when Thursday`s call came from the Swedish Academy.
The academy`s permanent secretary, Peter Englund, told Swedish television that Transtroemer had been nominated for the prize every year since 1993.
His work is “about death and history and memory, watching us, creating us, and that makes us important because human beings are sort of the prison where all these great entities meet,” Englund told the nobelprize.org website.
“It makes us important, so you can never feel small after reading the poetry of Transtroemer,” he said.
“He has quite a small production really, you could fit it into a not-too-large pocket book, all of it. So he has a very fast and very well contained production. He is not a prolific author,” Englund said.
Transtroemer`s reputation in the English-speaking world owes much to his friendship with American poet Robert Bly, who has translated much of his work into English, one of 60 languages in which his poems have appeared.
His work paints simple pictures from everyday life and nature, as seen in the following haiku, published in his collection The Great Enigma in 2006:
“Afterglow – looking at me, tugboats with bulldog`s faces”
His introspective style, described by Publishers Weekly as “mystical, versatile and sad”, is in contrast with Transtroemer`s life, which shows a constant, active commitment to working for a better world — and not just by writing poems.
In his parallel careers as psychologist and poet, he also worked with the disabled, convicts and drug addicts while, at the same time, producing poetic work.
His wife Monica told Swedish news agency TT her husband was surprised to win the prestigious accolade.
“He did not think he would get to experience this,” she said, adding that a swarm of reporters — who have year after year gathered outside the couple`s apartment building in anticipation of a Nobel announcement — was at their home.
“He also says he is comfortable with all these people who are coming to congratulate him and take pictures,” she said.
Transtroemer has sold thousands of volumes in his native country.
His books of poetry include `The Great Enigma: New Collected Poems` (New Directions, 2006), `The Half-Finished Heaven` (2001); `New Collected Poems` (1997); `For the Living and the Dead` (1995); `Baltics` (1975); and `Windows and Stones` (1972), an International Poetry Forum Selection and a runner-up for the National Book Award for translation.—AFP
