Literature Nobel Goes To Swedish Poet Tomas Transtromer

Swedish poet Tomas Transtromer is the 2011 Nobel laureate in literature, it was just announced.

In its statement, the Nobel committee said his work "gives us fresh access to reality."

Our friends over at Monkey See have more, including Neda Ulaby's pre-announcement look at the "Nobel shortlist."

As Neda wrote, Transtromer had been "another constant Nobel bridesmaid. He's a Swedish surrealist poet who's also spent a career as a psychiatrist working with institutionalized children."

Watch Monkey See later for a post from John Freeman, editor of Granta magazine.

Update at 7:30 a.m. ET: Transtromer will receive about $1.5 million.

Update at 7:25 a.m. ET. Some Of His Poems:

Eight of Transtromer's works are posted here.

Update at 7:15 a.m. ET.

Here's the entire press release from the committee:

"The Nobel Prize in Literature for 2011 is awarded to the Swedish poet Tomas Transtromer 'because, through his condensed, translucent images, he gives us fresh access to reality.' "

In its biographical information about the 80-year-old Transtomer, the committee writes:

"After publishing poems in a number of journals, Tranströmer published in 1954 17 dikter (17 poems) — one of the most acclaimed literary debuts of the decade. Already apparent was the interest in nature and music that has informed a major part of his production. ...

"Most of Transtromer's poetry collections are characterised by economy, concreteness and poignant metaphors. In his latest collections, Sorgegondolen (1996; The Sorrow Gondola, 1997) and Den stora gatan (2004; The Great Enigma, 2006), Transtromer has shifted towards an even smaller format and a higher degree of concentration."

Two Nobel prizes have yet to be awarded. The Peace Prize will be announced Friday morning. The Nobel in economics is due to be announced on Monday.

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