Archive · 8 Nov 2025
László Krasznahorkai: Nobel Laureate Known for Exceptionally Long Sentences
Imagine a writer named László Krasznahorkai from Hungary who recently won a big award for his books.
What makes his writing special is that he writes very, very long sentences, sometimes so long they fill up a whole page!
Some people find this very hard to read, like trying to climb a tall wall.
But Krasznahorkai says this is on purpose.
He thinks a sentence is like a single big idea, and sometimes a big idea needs a lot of words and a special rhythm, like music, instead of lots of short stops.
He doesn't try to make his books easy for everyone, because he believes in writing exactly what he wants to say without changing it.
Even though his books can be challenging, some readers, like the person who wrote this article, find themselves completely pulled into the worlds he creates.
Hungarian writer László Krasznahorkai, winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature, is noted for his exceptionally long sentences.
His sentences, which can extend for pages, are a deliberate stylistic and philosophical choice, not a stylistic flourish.
Krasznahorkai views the sentence as a unit of thought, prioritizing rhythm and tempo over standard punctuation for expressing important ideas.
The author acknowledges his work may only appeal to a niche audience due to its challenging nature, stating he does not compromise on his style.
Despite their length, readers can become deeply absorbed in the immersive worlds Krasznahorkai builds within his complex narrative structures.
- Who
- László Krasznahorkai, a Hungarian writer and Nobel Prize in Literature winner.
- What
- His distinctive literary style, characterized by extremely long sentences, has drawn significant attention.
- When
- The Nobel Prize announcement was made last month; the article discusses his work and style in the present context.
- Where
- Hungary (origin of the writer and language); global media attention.
- Why
- Krasznahorkai uses exceptionally long sentences as a philosophical choice, viewing the sentence as a unit of thought and emphasizing rhythm and tempo over traditional punctuation.
- Author
- László Krasznahorkai
- Nationality
- Hungarian
- Literary Style
- Known for long, complex sentences that can span pages.
- Notable Work Mentioned
- Satantango (1985)
- Translator Examples
- George Szirtes, Ottillie Mulzet, John Batki