Nobel Prize in Literature 2011: Top 4 Contenders

Less than twenty four hours before the final announcement of the Nobel Prize for Literature 2011 there were a lot of ups and downs in the chances of the finalists winning the most-coveted literary honour. Bob Dylan was being considered the surprise dark horse, who had beaten the odds 100/1 to reach the odds 10/1 and finally to 5/1. He was among the four top candidates for 2011 Nobel Prize for Literature.

#1 BOB DYLAN: He is an American singer-songwriter, poet and a musician. Within the span of 24 hours he reached the top position in the final choices for the Nobel Prize for Literature 2011. His rising to this position may have been surprising for many but he had many feathers in his cap that recommended him for this prize. He has to his credit many published book including ‘Chronicles Volume One’, ‘Tarantula’ and ‘Lyrics: 1962-2001’. Many of his songs like ‘Blowin’ in the Wind’, ‘The Times they are a-changin’, ‘Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door’ reached the level of becoming anthems for civil right and anti-war movement in the United States.

#2 ADONIS: The real name of Adonis is Ali Ahmad Said Asbar, an 81-year-old Syrian poet. Although his position was second, yet he is the most favoured one. One of the reasons for his being a favourite is that he writes in Arabic, a language that in underrepresented because we have only one other Nobel Prize winner, Naguib Mahfouz, who wrote in Arabic.

#3 HARUKI MURAKAMI: Haruki Murakami is a Japanese novelist. Till date only two Japanese writers have won the Nobel Prize in Literature: Kenzaburo Oe in the year 1994 and Yasunari Kawabata in the year 1968. Murakami’s novels are based on characters who defy the group mentality that dominates the Japanese culture.

#4 TOMAS TRANSTROMER: He is one of the leading poets of Sweden. This 80-year old poet is famous for his multi-faceted poetry that is characterised by subtlety.

Let us wait and watch who wins the race!!!