Nobel Prize for Literature: 50 writers who may (or may not) get lucky this year

2. Cynthia Ozick (95): One of the best-known American authors, Cynthia Ozick draws on the Jewish-American experience for her rich and intellectually engaging novels and short stories, often centred on memorable and nuanced female characters. Her writing often delves into politics, history literature, and the interplay of language and culture.

3. María Auxiliadora Álvarez (67): Venezuelan poet María Auxiliadora Álvarez is a notable figure in contemporary Spanish literature. Her work spans various genres, including poetry and essays; she has written 15 books of poetry. Her poems are “born in the tenuous frontier between body and experience, memory and desire, violence and humility.” They dwell on themes of identity, memory, and the cultural heritage of her native Spain.

4. Rafael Argullol (74): Spanish writer, philosopher and poet and professor of aesthetics at Pompeu Fabra University from Catalonia, Rafael Argullol has created a diverse body of work (25 in total) that includes novels, essays, and poetry. A prominent figure in contemporary Spanish literature, his writing often delves into philosophical and existential themes.

5. Maxine Hong Kingston (82): A Chinese-American author who has written memoirs and fiction like The Woman Warrior, China Men, Tripmaster Monkey, and Hawai'i One Summer, Maxine Hong Kingston explores the complexities of Chinese-American identity and the immigrant experience in the United States.

6. Thylias Moss (69): An American poet, writer, filmmaker, sound artist and playwright, Thylias Moss is known for her experimental style and exploration of themes related to race, identity, and social justice. Her poetry collections include Wannabe Hoochie Mama Gallery of Realities' Red Dress Code: New & Selected Poems (2016), Tokyo Butter: Poems (2006), Slave Moth: A Narrative in Verse (2004) and Pyramid of Bone (1989).

7. Karen Tei Yamashita (72): Japanese American novelist, short-story writer and playwright, Karen Tei Yamashita is the author of eight books centred on Japanese-American history, culture and identity. Her body of work, which includes novels like Tropic of Orange, engages with themes of globalisation, identity, and the interconnectedness of cultures.

8. Rabih Alameddine (64): A Lebanese-American painter and writer, Rabih Alameddine’s novels, such as The Hakawati and An Unnecessary Woman, explore themes of identity, displacement, and the power of storytelling. His 2021 novel, The Wrong End of the Telescope, won the 2022 PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction.

9. Dionne Brand (70): Trinidad-born Canadian poet, novelist and essayist Dionne Brand’s lyrical and politically engaged work often tackles issues of race, gender, and social justice in her country and beyond. Toronto’s third Poet Laureate from September 2009 to November 2012, Brand uses language in a manner that shows us its inherent beauty.

10. Fabio Morábito (68): Egypt-born Mexican-Italian writer and poet Fabio Morábito’s poetic prose and essays delve into the intricacies of language, memory, and the human psyche. He has written four books of poetry in Spanish, including Lotes baldíos De lunes todo el año, two books of prose, three collections of short stories, and two books of essays, El viaje y la enfermedad (1984) and Los pastores sin ovejas (1996).

11. Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak (81): An Indian-American literary theorist, philosopher and feminist critic, Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak has created an influential body ofwork in postcolonial studies. Her writings explore complex topics such as colonialism, subaltern studies, and deconstruction.

12. Robert Glück (76): American author Robert Glück, who has written more than ten books of poetry and prose, often challenges conventional narrative forms and explores themes of sexuality, desire, and identity. He is one of the founders of the San Francisco-based New Narrative.

13. Esther Kinsky (67): German writer and literary translator, Esther Kinsky has written six volumes of poetry, five novels — including Summer Resort, Banatsko, River, Grove, and Rombo, several essays on language, poetry and translation. Her work delves into themes of memory, place, and the natural world.

14. Piedad Bonnett (72): Colombian poet, playwright and novelist Piedad Bonnett’s works, imbued with emotional depth, explore themes of love and loss. Her 2013 book, Lo que no tiene nombre, is a personal account of the struggles of her son with mental illness.

15. Josef Winkler (70): An Austrian writer known for his evocative prose, Josef Winkler’s works often touch upon themes of Catholicism, death and homosexuality. Drawing on his own experience, he writes about the dilemmas of characters in a patriarchal Catholic world, like other German-language writers, including Jean Genet, Peter Handke and Hans Henny Jahnn.

16. Can Xue (70): A prominent Chinese avant-garde fiction writer and literary critic, Deng Xiaohua, better known by her pen name Can Xue, explores the mysterious and the inexplicable in her work, which challenges the conventional narrative structures and often features dreamlike, surreal elements. Written in the stream-of-consciousness narrative style, they juggle different perspectives and time sequences.

17. Jon Fosse (64): Norwegian playwright and novelist, Jon Fosse has been one of the perennial contenders. Known for his sparse style, he often explores themes of identity, loneliness, and human relationships across works spanning several genres and forms: novels, plays, poems, stories, essays, and children’s books.

18. Gerald Murnane (84): Australian writer Gerald Murnane’s intricately written novels and chiselled essays delve into themes of memory, landscape, and the act of storytelling itself. Teju Cole has termed him “a genius on the level of Beckett”. Murnane’s works include 11 novels (Tamarisk Row, The Plains, Inland, Barley Patch, A History of Books, A Million Windows and Border Districts), and a collection of essays, Invisible Yet Enduring Lilacs.

19. Anne Carson (73): Canadian poet, essayist, and translator, Anne Carson is known for her genre-averse approach to poetry and prose. In her quirky, inventive, and erudite body of work, she blends poetry with essay, and literary criticism with other forms of prose. Her name was a favourite last year, too, but it was Annie Ernaux who won.

20. Lyudmila Ulitskaya (80): An acclaimed modern Russian novelist, short-story writer, translator, screenwriter and television host, Lyudmila Ulitskaya was awarded the Austrian State Prize for European Literature for her oeuvre in 2014. She has written 11 novels; her last novel, Daniel Stein, Interpreter, published in 2006, deals with the Holocaust and ‘the need for reconciliation between Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.’

21. Mircea Cărtărescu (67): Romanian novelist poet, short-story writer, literary critic, and essayist, Mircea Cărtărescu has been described as one of the great literary voices of Central Europe by Olga Tokarczuk, the Nobel Prize winner and author of Flights. He has published more than 25 books; in his dreamlike novels like Nostalgia, he blends fantasy, imagination and invention, memory and magic.

22. Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o (85): A strong contender, and bookies’ longtime favourite, Kenya’s literary giant Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, East Africa's leading novelist, explores themes of colonialism, identity, and language in his novels and essays. He is hailed for his transition from writing in English to primarily using Gikuyu, which is seen as a bold step in decolonizing African literature. His debut, Weep Not, Child (1964) was the first major novel in English by an East Africa

23. Thomas Pynchon (86): A towering American novelist, Thomas Pynchon is renowned for his dense and complex novels. His writing, which combines elements of postmodernism, historical fiction, and cultural critique, is centred on paranoia, technology, and human nature. Like every year, he is favoured to win. But, perhaps, he will not make it, going down in history as the notable exceptions, like Leo Tolstoy, or Anthon Chekhov, Maxim Gorky or Marcel Proust or Franz Kafka or Henry James or Joseph Conrad.

24. César Aira (74): Argentinian writer and translator César Aira has been tremendously prolific, having published over a 100 short books of stories, novels and essays. His novels (about 40), suffused with ‘idiosyncratic philosophizing,’ often intertwine elements of reality and fantasy. He works with incongruous narrative materials and his short fiction has been described as ‘gemlike, vivid and mind-bending.’

25. Haruki Murakami (74): Yes, I know what you are thinking: Murakami has been in the race for decades but probably won’t make it ever. It is sad, but it may be true. But that doesn’t stop his fans from keeping their fingers crossed year after year after year. One of the best-known Japanese writers, Murkamai has legions of admirers who swear by the surreal worlds of his stories. His works, including Norwegian Wood and Kafka on the Shore, explore themes of loneliness, love, and the search for meaning in the modern world. His novels and short stories have been bestsellers in Japan; translated into over 50 languages, they have sold millions of copies outside Japan.

26. Michel Houellebecq (67): Essayist and novelist, satirist and provocateur, occasional actor, filmmaker and singer Michel Houellebecq is the enfant terrible of French literature. In his controversial novels — sometimes darkly humorous, and often offensive — he explores themes of loneliness and alienation. In one of his novels, he imagines a France ruled by Islamists, which has led many to label him as an Islamophobe — a charge he has admitted to. His memoir, In Quelques Mois dans ma Vie (A Few Months in My Life), was published in France in May this year.

27. Pierre Michon (78): A French writer celebrated for his lyrical and poetic prose, Pierre Michon’s novels often delve into historical and mythological themes, blending fiction and biography. His first novel, Small Lives (1984), is regarded as a genuine masterpiece in contemporary French literature.

28. Raúl Zurita (73): A Chilean poet known for his powerful and politically charged poetry, Raúl Zurita’s works include Purgatory, Paradise is Empty and Anteparadise, which are deeply rooted in the cultural and political context of Chile. His poetry reflects both personal experiences and the collective history of his country.

29. Salman Rushdie (76): Yet another favourite of the bookies, and many South Asian writers. There has been a vociferous demand from several quarters, including critics’ circles in the US and the UK, to give the Nobel Prize to Salman Rushdie after he was attacked in New York, in which he lost his one eye. The British-Indian writer, in novels like Midnight’s Children and The Satanic Verses, explores themes of identity and cultural clash; his fiction bristles with magic realism as well as “connections, disruptions, and migrations between Eastern and Western civilizations.”

30. Jamaica Kincaid (74): A Caribbean-American writer known for her novels and essays that often explore themes of colonialism, identity, and the immigrant experience. Her work includes Annie John and A Small Place — ‘an extended essay that sees her grappling with her attitude toward her home country, the Caribbean island Antigua.’

31. Ko Un (90): The South Korean poet, its foremost living writer, has been one of the frontrunners for the Nobel Prize in Literature for many years. He has been imprisoned numerous times for his alleged role in the campaign for Korean democracy. His works have been translated and published in more than 15 countries. His poetry reflects South Korea’s history and culture.

32. Maryse Condé (86): A Guadeloupean-French author of epic historical fiction, mostly based in Africa, Maryse Condé’s novels (like Segu and I, Tituba, Black Witch of Salem) often tackle issues of race, identity, colonialism, and the nature of nature of intercultural encounters. She has been lauded for her global vision of the Black diaspora.

33. Helle Helle (57): A widely translated Danish short story writer and novelist, Helle Helle is praised for her minimalist and poetic prose; her novels centred on themes of isolation and relationships often depict the everyday lives of ordinary people. Her writing is borne by ‘a stringent, understated writing style that describes what can be seen and heard.’

34. Karl Ove Knausgård (54): A Norwegian author famous for his six-volume autobiographical novel series My Struggle, Karl Ove Knausgård delves into the minutiae of everyday life and personal experiences in his work. He made his literary debut in 1998 with the widely acclaimed novel Out of the World. His autofictional mode of writing has earned him scores of admirers; his exploration of ‘the mundanity of life, the exploration of shame, and the circular nature of family and time’ resonate with them.

35. Edna O’Brien (92): In a year, when the Booker Prize Foundation longlisted many Irish authors, two of whom (Paul Murray and Paul Lynch) made it to the shortlist as well, it won’t come as a surprise if an Irish is chosen by the Swedish Academy this year. And who better than Edna O’Brien, the memoirist, playwright, poet and short-story writer, who explores themes of sexuality, women’s rights, and the Irish experience.

36. Elena Poniatowska (91): French-born Mexican journalist and author Elena Poniatowska’s works (including her famous book Massacre in Mexico) blend fiction and nonfiction to explore the social and political issues of Mexico. Often termed as an author of ‘testimonial narratives,’ she draws on both historical facts as well as the voices of the marginalised in the society, offering a platform to those who have traditionally lacked the means, access, and opportunities to share their experiences, especially women and the poor.

37. Homero Aridjis (83): Mexican poet, novelist, environmental activist, journalist, former ambassador and ex-president of PEN International, Homero Aridjis is known for his environmentally themed poetry and fiction. An advocate for environmental conservation, he has written 51 books of poetry.

38. Joyce Carol Oates (85): A prolific American author known for her extensive literary output — 58 novels, plays, novellas, short stories, poetry, and non-fiction —, Joyce Carol Oates’s writing is a compelling exploration into violence and the darkness of modern life. Her ability to depict the complexities of good and evil has cemented her status as a stalwart of American literature.

39. László Krasznahorkai (69): A Hungarian writer whose dense and demanding postmodern novels often grapple with themes of time, existence, and the human psyche, László Krasznahorkai is a strong contender, alongside Péter Nádas and Murakami, with betting agencies ranking him high in the list of favourites. If Jon Fosse leads the rankings, Krasznahorkai comes closely behind, followed by Gerald Murnane and Mircea Cartarescu.

40. Margaret Atwood (83): The celebrated Canadian author of speculative fiction, Margaret Atwood has written more than 50 books of fiction, poetry and critical essays, all from the feminist perspective. Her notable works include The Handmaid’s Tale and Alias Grace. Her 16th collection of stories, Dearly, was published in 2020. In her latest book, Old Babes in the Woods, is a collection of 15 stories, which confront ageing, grief and looking back.

41. Paul Simon (81): If Bob Dylan got it, why can’t Paul Simon, American singer-songwriter (behind iconic songs such as The Sound of Silence and Bridge Over Troubled Water), labelled as one of the most celebrated artists of the twentieth century? Pop musicians are among the favourites, including Patti Smith, Joni Mitchell and Paul McCartney. Will any of them make it? We will see.

42. Stephen King (76): A prolific American author of horror, supernatural fiction, and suspense, Stephen King is known for his novels like The Shining and It, which have become cultural landmarks. Holly Gibney, one of King’s most compelling and ingeniously crafted characters, returns in his thrilling new novel, Holly, which was released on September 5.

43. Ishmael Reed (85): An American poet, essayist, and novelist, Ishmael Reed's works often engage with themes of race, identity, and cultural commentary. His satirical works challenge American political culture. Mumbo Jumbo, a sprawling and unorthodox novel set in 1920s New York, is among his best.

44. Yasmina Reza (64): A French playwright actress, screenwriter and novelist, Yasmina Reza is known for her witty and satirical plays like Art and novels like Happy Are the Happy and God of Carnage. Many of her brief satirical plays reflect on contemporary middle-class issues.

45. Vivian Gornick (88): An American writer, radical feminist critic, journalist, essayist, and memoirist Vivian Gornick explores themes of feminism, identity, and literature in her essays and memoirs (Fierce Attachments). Her three essay collections include The End of the Novel of Love, Approaching Eye Level, and, most recently, The Men in My Life.

46. Kim Hyesoon (68): One of the most prominent and influential contemporary poets of South Korea, Kim Hyesoon is known for her innovative and surreal poetry. She has published fourteen poetry collections, and her works often challenge traditional poetic forms and explore themes of gender and violence. .

47. Aase Berg (56): A Swedish poet known for her bold and experimental verse, Aase Berg’s poetry explores themes of the body, language, and surrealism. She was among the founding members of the Stockholm Surrealist Group in 1986; she put together an early book on their publishing company Surrealistförlaget in 1988. She is the author of seven books of poetry in Swedish as well as various works of fiction and prose.

48. Nuruddin Farah (77): A Somali novelist known for his exploration of postcolonial Africa and themes of exile and identity in works like Maps and Knots. His novel, Crooked Rib, which was published in 1970, has been described as "one of the cornerstones of modern East African literature today". He has also written plays both for stage and radio, as well as short stories and essays

49. Don DeLillo (86): The legendary American novelist, famous for his postmodern and often apocalyptic themes, Don DeLillo’s works include White Noise and Underworld. Also a short story writer, playwright, screenwriter and essayist, his works have covered subjects as diverse as television, nuclear war, the complexities of language, art, the advent of the Digital Age, mathematics, politics, economics, and sport.

50. Ismail Kadare (87): Yet another favourite, who has been a frontrunner forever. An Albanian novelist and poet, Ismail Kadare’s works often touch on themes of totalitarianism, history, and mythology. A leading international literary figure, he focused on poetry until the publication of his first novel, The General of the Dead Army, which made him an international star. His latest novel, A Dictator Calls, has just been released.