In 2001, 2005, and 2007 Someone from the UK/living in the UK, writing in English won.
The Shrike Send a noteboard - 10/10/2009 02:23:37 AM
1. You don't have to be a great writer or stylist, and you certainly don't need to have any real command of the language you write in.
This I don't agree with. But you're entitled to your opinion. The ones who I have read have been excellent writers. Like Mueller for instance.
2. You cannot be from North America or Britain.
Oh you can. Granted the US is not that well represented, but the US only represents 4% of the world population, and probably a little more in terms of literature produced, but Europe is quite literate and Europe has 450 million people compared to 300 million here. So 50 percent more than we have. Statistically a non-American, non British person is more likely to win. However, in 2001, 2005, and 2007 someone from the UK or residing in the UK won. V. S. Naipaul, Harold Pinter, and Doris Lessing. Furthermore, if you include writing in English from a Commonwealth country, then you can include South Africa's Coetzee who won in 2003. So in the past 10 years, 4 have been English or Commonwealth Countries writing in English. It's been a good decade for the English language. Not as great in the 90s, though. Only 3 of 10. South Africa, United States, Ireland. English is well represented among the winners.
3. Your native language must be something other than English.
See above to refute this point.
4. If you have a chance at being remembered as a Great Writer 100 or more years after your death, your chances diminish greatly. (For reference, see James Joyce, Jorge Luis Borges, and Franz Kafka.)
There have been issues. I completely agree. Proust and Nabokov were also overlooked. But you see non-English speakers/writers are overlooked too. Just like Borges and Kafka in your examples.
5. Your writing must deal with politics, preferably in relation to European/American oppression of indigenous peoples, or of Eastern Bloc states.
No. But not too far off the mark
/Literature: Herta Müller wins Nobel Prize of Literature
- 08/10/2009 12:37:31 PM
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Oh, I already added her. You are half an hour late. 
- 08/10/2009 01:10:57 PM
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- 08/10/2009 01:10:57 PM
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I am not familiar with her work either. Though the titles I have heard of before. *NM*
- 08/10/2009 03:11:15 PM
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neither myself nor my boyfriend who is from berlin know of her...
- 08/10/2009 05:15:45 PM
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Yep. Just keep selecting random people. It's not like there are writers who really deserve it. 
- 09/10/2009 03:35:15 AM
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- 09/10/2009 03:35:15 AM
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I doubt those are the criteria.
- 09/10/2009 09:08:09 AM
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The real criteria is as follows:
- 10/10/2009 01:38:12 AM
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In 2001, 2005, and 2007 Someone from the UK/living in the UK, writing in English won.
- 10/10/2009 02:23:37 AM
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I'm happy she won. I had heard of her and read some of her stuff. Excellent choice.
- 10/10/2009 02:07:39 AM
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