Herta Müller receives 2009 Nobel for Literature

[Arneb]

Talking to myself, it seems, but here goes...

Another tireless singer of the ravages of tyranny , this time with the pen.

Herta Müller, born a German expatriate in Ceaucescu's Romania, and endlessly harassed by the Securitate even after her emigration to Germany, wrote moving accounts of life under the dictatorship. Remembering those times (Here is socialism for you, Dragon) in overwhelming literary form earned her this year's Nobel in literature.

[Enzo]

They've passed me over again...

[Arneb]

Well, they are known to be anti-American, but I have it on good authority that the head of the selection committeesaid they choose you over his dead body. So, no great hopes for you.

[Heid the Ba]

Well, they are known to be anti-American,

The Peace Prize would suggest otherwise. An odd selection.

[Мастер]

The Peace Prize would suggest otherwise. An odd selection.

It's good to know that you no longer have to do anything to win . . .

[Heid the Ba]

With apologies to Arneb and Frau Muller, I hadn't heard of her work. I'm never sure how well books translate and what, if anything, is lost, but I'll look for the one recommended.

Scandewegian detective fiction is very much in vogue here and so much is being published in translation I query the quality of some of it.

[Heid the Ba]

The Peace Prize would suggest otherwise. An odd selection.

It's good to know that you no longer have to do anything to win . . .

Nominations closed on 1st February 2009, so he he was awarded this for his first week or so in office.

[Мастер]

Nominations closed on 1st February 2009, so he he was awarded this for his first week or so in office.

Must have been a good week. If Gandhi were still alive, he could study Obama's activities during that week, and maybe figure out where he went wrong.

[Heid the Ba]

Aparently Gandhi didn't win as he led a political party. There is a page on this on the Nobel Prize site, but I can't get through just now.

[Heid the Ba]

Well, they are known to be anti-American, but I have it on good authority that the head of the selection committeesaid they choose you over his dead body. So, no great hopes for you.

Forgot to say, the Peace Prize is handed out by Norway and occasionally goes to Staters, the other Nobel prizes are handed out by a Swedish committee.

[MM_Dandy]

Nominations closed on 1st February 2009, so he he was awarded this for his first week or so in office.

Well, he got nominated for his first week or so, at any rate. Are they restricted to evaluate nominees for actions prior to their nomination?

[Heid the Ba]

Well, he got nominated for his first week or so, at any rate. Are they restricted to evaluate nominees for actions prior to their nomination?

In terms of Nobel's will they should; everything there is for actions already carried out.

[Lance]

Well, he hasn't started a war yet...

[Arneb]

Well , as a Mr. Mahmoud A., of Tehran, Iran said, it is to be hoped that the Nobel Prize for Mr. Obama serves as an incentive for him to seek peace and reconciliation.

I wasn't aware, though, that being an incentive was in the will of Mr. Nobel.

BTW, it's all a vast right-wing conspiracy. Rush Limbaugh nominated Mr. Obama in secret so he had one more reason to flame away at him.

[Мастер]

Well, he hasn't started a war yet...

Neither have I. Where's my prize?

[Heid the Ba]

Interesting piece in the Gruniad by Herta Muller at the weekend.


(The Guardian used to be so poorly proof read it is known as the Gruniad.)