French Novelist Patrick Modiano Wins Nobel Prize in Literature

Despite widespread internet speculation that Haruki Murakami or Philip Roth might win this year, the Nobel prize again went to a novelist somewhat obscure to American audiences. French novelist Patrick Modiano was awarded the prestigious prize “for the art of memory with which he has evoked the most ungraspable human destinies and uncovered the life-world of the occupation.”Modiano, who is widely celebrated in France, is best known for his novel Missing Person about a detective who goes in search of his own memory.

When contacted about the award, the reclusive Modiano reportedly said, “it’s weird,” but added he was very happy. Modiano wins a prize worth around 1.1 million dollars.

Currently only a few Modiano novels are available in English, although that is likely to change after today’s announcement.