Every now and then, a piece of literary news comes along that lifts my whole day — the kind that reminds me why I love being so close to Vienna’s cultural pulse. Learning that László Krasznahorkai, the 2025 Nobel Prize in Literature laureate, chose to place his pre‑2020 archive in the Austrian National Library gave me exactly that feeling.
There’s something deeply inspiring about watching a major Central European writer entrust his creative legacy to Vienna, a city that continues to embrace and celebrate great literature.
Knowing that the Austrian National Library now preserves the early archive of a freshly awarded Nobel laureate adds a special glow to the city’s cultural landscape. It’s hard not to feel proud of Vienna for being a place where such a world‑class work can be cared for with expertise, respect, and genuine affection.
What struck me most while reading about the archive is its sheer richness. Manuscripts, notebooks, corrected proofs, thousands of letters from every corner of the world, personal documents, photographs, digital files, audio and video recordings — it’s a full universe of a writer’s life. The best part is that this universe continues to grow; more materials are expected to be discovered in the future.
There’s something beautiful about imagining these documents resting in the quiet, dignified spaces of the Austrian National Library, waiting for researchers, readers, and future generations to discover them.
I’ve always admired how seriously the Austrian National Library approaches preservation. Before anything else, they secure the long‑term safety of the materials — whether paper, digital, or audiovisual. Then comes the careful cataloguing, the patient organisation, and the creation of online guides for researchers. Parts of the archive are already appearing in exhibitions and academic projects across the city, which makes the whole process feel alive and accessible.
Because so much of the material is in Hungarian, Hungarian experts are also involved — a detail that makes the archive feel even more authentically Central European.
One thing I can’t shake: so many Hungarian writers are choosing to place their archives abroad — and frankly, it makes perfect sense. Vienna offers what they’re looking for: an open, genuinely European intellectual space where literature isn’t confined by national narratives but is explored with curiosity and breadth. For authors who see themselves as part of a wider European tradition, this isn’t just appealing; it’s the only environment that truly matches their ambitions.
If you notice any inaccuracies in my writing, please get in touch with me. I will be happy to correct it.
