Canadian poet Anne Carson won the 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature, recognized by the Swedish Academy "for her bold and inventive oeuvre that, in playful dialogue with the classical tradition, has created new forms for contemporary literature."

Carson, 76, was born in Toronto in 1950 and now lives in Michigan. She holds Canadian and Icelandic citizenship. The Nobel committee chair Anders Olsson praised her for breaking away from conventional lyrical poetry and creating work that moves between classical and modern forms, genres and art forms.

When Ingrid Carlberg, the Swedish Academy's permanent secretary, called to notify Carson of the award, she was in Iceland. "She had time to tell me was that she is, for the moment, in Iceland, where she is listening to the wind," Carlberg said. "She was taken by surprise but very happy."

Carson joked about the selection, telling public broadcaster RUV that the judges were "crazy" for honoring her.

The award, valued at 12 million Swedish kronor (approximately $1.2 million), recognizes a lifetime body of work and is considered the world's most prestigious literary honor.

Carson has worked as a professor of classics for more than 30 years, and her writing draws heavily from Greek literature. Her notable works include "The Glass Essay," "Autobiography of Red: A Novel in Verse," "Nox," and "Float." She released "The Trojan Women: A Comic," a graphic retelling of Euripides' ancient story, in 2021. Her translation of Sophocles' "Elektra" was staged in London last year starring Brie Larson.

Olsson noted that Carson's collaborations with visual artists, choreographers, opera and theater directors demonstrate her freedom in relating to literary expectations. Her translations often give contemporary twists to ancient works.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called Carson's win "an extraordinary achievement and a proud moment for Canada," saying her work features "wit, imagination, and a style entirely her own" and that she "has brought ancient stories to new audiences and transformed the way we think about literature."