“I think it’s just brilliant and wonderful,” Gurnah told Reuters when asked how he felt to win the prize. “I am very grateful to the Swedish Academy for nominating me and my work.”
“It’s just great – it’s just a big prize, and such a huge list of wonderful writers – I am still taking it in,” he said. “It was such a complete surprise that I really had to wait until I heard it announced before I could believe it.” Asked if he was drinking champagne or dancing for joy, he said: “No” with a laugh.