Interview

Telephone interview with Harold Pinter after the announcement of the 2005 Nobel Prize in Literature, October 13, 2005. Interviewer is Marika Griehsel, freelance journalist.

 

- Hello. Good morning.

- Good morning, good morning, Mr Pinter. Congratulations. I'm calling from the official website of the Nobel Foundation.

- Yes. Well, thank you very much.

- It's fantastic news for us here; and I would like to hear what your thoughts were when you received the news.

- Well, I've ... I've been absolutely speechless. I am ... I'm overwhelmed by the news, very deeply moved by the news. But I can't really articulate what I feel.

- You didn't have any idea it could come your way, did you?

- No idea whatsoever! No. So I'm just bowled over.

- There's so much to talk about. But I would like just to ask you what, in your career, you think has been the most important, what has the most ...

- I cannot answer ... I can't answer these questions.

- No, I understand.

- There's nothing more I can say, except that I am deeply moved; and, as I say, I have no words at the moment. I shall have words by the time I get to Stockholm.

- You will be coming to Stockholm?

- Oh, yes.

- Okay. Thank you, Sir.

- Okay?

- Thank you.

- Thank you very much.

- Thank you.

 

Harold Pinter. Photo: Martin Rosenbaum