Japan's Murakami favourite for Nobel prize again - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

Japan's Murakami favourite for Nobel prize again

AFP | By, Tokyo
Sep 21, 2013 11:59 AM IST

Japanese literary superstar Haruki Murakami is favourite for this year's Nobel Prize in Literature, betting odds showed Friday, after repeatedly being mentioned as a contender for the prestigious global gong.

Japanese literary superstar Haruki Murakami is favourite for this year's Nobel Prize in Literature, betting odds showed Friday, after repeatedly being mentioned as a contender for the prestigious global gong.

HT Image
HT Image


Online bookmaker Ladbrokes.com was Friday offering odds of 3-1 on the novelist scooping up the prize, which will be announced in Sweden next month.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Murakami, who has a large and loyal following worldwide, has been a regular nominee for the prize for many years, and was Ladbrokes' top bet at one point last year, when he lost out to China's Mo Yan.

In the odds offered by Ladbrokes, Murakami is followed by US writer Joyce Carol Oates at 6-1. Peter Nadas from Hungary is the third favourite at 7-1, with South Korean Ko Un and Algerian Assia Djebar tied in fourth at 10-1.

Murakami, who spends much of his time in the United States, is known for writing lyrically and surreally about Japanese who refuse to toe the line in a homogenous society, peppering his works with pop culture references.

His three-volume novel "1Q84" proved a worldwide phenomenon, and non-Japanese-speaking fans are now eagerly waiting for translation of his latest -- "Shikisai wo Motanai Tazaki Tsukuru to Kare no Junrei no Toshi (Colourless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage)" -- expected next year.

It was released in April in Japanese.

Murakami's latest novel tells the story of a young man struggling with an ordeal in his past, who uses the support offered by a romance to get back on his feet.

Translated into some 40 languages, his works have attracted fans globally with their so-called "Murakami world" -- fantastical scenes such as a giant frog inviting a salaryman into an epic battle, or skies that rain mackerel.

Unlock a world of Benefits with HT! From insightful newsletters to real-time news alerts and a personalized news feed – it's all here, just a click away! -Login Now!
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Friday, March 29, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On