Canadian poet Anne Carson winning the Nobel prize for literature is a "proud moment" for the country, Prime Minister Mark Carney said Thursday.
The 76-year-old's works feature "wit, imagination, and a style entirely her own," Carney said on X.
"She has brought ancient stories to new audiences and transformed the way we think about literature," he said, calling the award "an extraordinary achievement and a proud moment for Canada."
In a statement to AFP, Canadian novelist Margaret Atwood said Carson's work "has long been admired among poets of many countries."
"For new readers I would recommend 'The Beauty of the Husband' -- direct and visceral, funny and angry and sad - or 'Men in the Off Hours.' Delights await!" added Atwood, a longtime Nobel contender who was passed over in 2013 in favor of fellow Canadian Alice Munro.
A renowned classicist, Carson has taught at several prestigious Canadian and American universities, including McGill in Montreal. She joined McGill's Department of Classics in 1988 and left the university in 2002.
"This is a wonderfully deserved honor for Anne Carson, whose work has captivated readers around the world by bringing ancient voices into conversation with the present," Lisa Shapiro, McGill's dean of arts, was quoted as saying by The McGill Reporter.
"Her extraordinary talent, originality and intellectual depth have had a profound influence on contemporary literature. We are proud that McGill was her academic home for many years and delighted to see her remarkable contributions recognized on the world stage."
Outside the university in Montreal, Vicky Huang, a 24-year-old political science student, expressed pride.
"My friends and I love 'Eros the Bittersweet,' so this is such exciting news," she told AFP.
"Yeah, I mean, the fact that she's a Canadian woman working in high literature makes all of us really proud."
