Following its long tradition of awarding the Nobel Prize in Literature to writers whom Americans never read but probably should, the Swedish Royal Academy bestowed this year's prize on Austrian novelist, poet, and playwright, Elfriede Jelinek. Jelinek is only the tenth woman to win the prize since its creation in 1901.
According to their official site, the Nobel Prize committee chose Jelinek "for her musical flow of voices and counter-voices in novels and plays that with extraordinary linguistic zeal reveal the absurdity of society's clich?©s and their subjugating power."
Jelinek's most famous novel, "The Piano Teacher" (1983, tr. 1988), is an autobiographical account of sadomasochism and music. Austrian director Michael Haneke adapted the novel for a 2001 film starring Isabelle Hubert.
Primarily known as a satirist, Jelinek's other works include "Wonderful, Wonderful Times" (1980, tr. 1990), "Lust" (1989, tr. 1992) and "Women as Lovers" (1975, tr. 1994). Her latest play, "Sportst??ck," is an examination of violence and fascism in sports.
Last year's winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature was South African novelist J.M. Coetzee.
