Opinion: On the 2011 Nobel Laureate in Literature
Celebrated Swedish poet Tomas Transtromer signs Vecka nr.II, a reflection of his poem "Galleriet," an artist book by multi-award Iraqi-Swedish Modhir Ahmed, By Tokistar (Own work), via Wikimedia Commons
Each year, I eagerly await the Nobel Laureate in Literature. Being an aficionado of things Swedish, including the language, I always listen to the first announcement made by Peter Englund, permanent secretary of the Swedish Academy, and watch the reaction of the largely-Swedish crowd of reporters. Like most other literary types, I have my own list of who should win and who should have won, and express pleasure or bemusement or curiosity based on that. This year, however, when Englund made his announcement of Swedish poet Tomas Tranströmer as the 2011 Nobel Laureate in Literature, my cheer rivaled those of the reporters.
That the MHC is celebrating a year of poetry makes that a poet has won this prestigious award all the more relevant to us. And the choice is especially fitting for the Nobel Committee: Tranströmer is a leader among Scandinavian poets, and the national poet of Sweden, celebrated in a way that few American poets are in this country, at least in modern days (think Whitman during his time). Most of all, his work is exceptionally powerful and beautiful, showing what poetry can accomplish with a small number of words focused on images of everyday life. Take National Insecurity as an example.
Like most poets, Tranströmer has led a career along with poetry. He graduated in Psychology from Stockholm University and has for much of his life worked with disabled people, drug addicts, and juvenile offenders. In 1990, he suffered a stroke that eliminated use of one hand as well as much of his speech. This was a double-blow; Tranströmer is an accomplished pianist as well.
It is anticipated that Tranströmer will accept the Nobel Prize in person through a performance on the piano. This makes the December ceremony one that I’ll be especially eager to watch and celebrate.
—Diane Magras
