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Alexievich's work
includes a series of books called the "Voices of Utopia" about
individuals in the former Soviet Union as well as works on the
consequences of the 1986 nuclear disaster in Chernobyl and the
Russian war in Afghanistan.
"By means of her extraordinary method – a carefully composed
collage of human voices – Alexievich deepens our comprehension
of an entire era," the Swedish Academy said on Thursday in
awarding the 8 million crown ($972,000) prize.
Alexievich, born in 1948 in Ukraine, worked as a teacher and a
journalist after finishing school.
"She has invented a new literary genre. She transcends
journalistic formats and has pressed ahead with a genre that
others have helped create," said Sara Danius, permanent
secretary of the Swedish Academy.
"If you remove her works from the shelves there would be gaping
holes. That says a lot about how original she is."
Literature was the fourth of this year's Nobel prizes. The prize
is named after dynamite inventor Alfred Nobel and has been
awarded since 1901 for achievements in science, literature and
peace in accordance with his will.
(Reporting by Daniel Dickson; Editing by Alistair Scrutton)
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