I obtained a prize I never wanted: Annie Ernaux on winning the Nobel Prize in Literature.

French author Annie Ernaux was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2022 for her remarkable ability to explore the origins, disconnections, and societal constraints of personal memory with great courage and analytical precision. Surprisingly, Ernaux recently disclosed during a public event that she had never aspired to win such a prestigious accolade. In fact, she confessed that the unwanted fame and attention that accompanied the Nobel Prize had caused significant disruption to her writing process, making it difficult for her to concentrate on her literary endeavors.

During a conversation at the Charleston festival with acclaimed author Sally Rooney, Ernaux candidly expressed her feelings through an interpreter, stating, “I must be brutally honest and admit that I received a prize I never desired. The Nobel Prize descended upon me like an unexpected bomb, causing a major upheaval in my life. Since its reception, I have found myself unable to write, despite the act of writing always being my future. Consequently, the inability to look forward to writing has been deeply distressing to me,” as reported by The Guardian.

Despite her struggles, Ernaux acknowledged her gratitude for being awarded the Nobel Prize. She emphasized that the true value lies not in the award itself but in the meaningful connections she has forged with readers throughout her four-decade-long writing career. “Yes, it is an incredible honor—a recognition of my laborious work as a writer. Having dedicated myself to this craft for over 40 years, what truly moves me is when people confide that they see their own lives mirrored in my words. It is the realization that this prize belongs not only to me but to all of us that truly matters,” she shared with The Guardian.

Annie Ernaux, born on September 1, 1940, writes in French. Although her works are classified as fiction, they draw heavily from her own life experiences, making them predominantly autobiographical. She has authored a total of 20 books, including notable titles such as ‘A Man’s Place,’ ‘Years,’ and ‘A Woman’s Story,’ among others.