Canada's Alice Munro, 82, wins Nobel Literature Prize

A photo taken on June 25, 2009 in Dublin, Ireland shows Canadian author Alice Munro who has been awarded the 2013 Nobel Literature Prize, the Royal Swedish Academy announced on October 10, 2013 in Stockholm. PHOTO/ PETER MUHLY

What you need to know:

  • She becomes the 13th woman to win in the history of the coveted award.
  • Munro will receive the prize sum of eight million Swedish kronor ($1.24 million, 915,000 euros).

Canada's Alice Munro has won the Nobel Literature Prize for her short stories.

Her focus was on the frailties of the human condition.

She becomes the 13th woman to win in the history of the coveted award.

The Swedish Academy honoured Munro, 82, as a "master of the contemporary short story".

It hailed her "finely tuned storytelling, which is characterised by clarity and psychological realism. Some critics consider her a Canadian Chekhov."

"Her stories are often set in small town environments, where the struggle for a socially acceptable existence often results in strained relationships and moral conflicts — problems that stem from generational differences and colliding life ambitions," it said.

$1.24 MILLION PRIZE

Tipped as one of the favourites in the days before Thursday's announcement, Munro is just the 13th woman to win the Nobel Literature Prize since it was first awarded in 1901.

She is also the first Canadian to win the prestigious honour.

Munro will receive the prize sum of eight million Swedish kronor ($1.24 million, 915,000 euros).

She will be presented with her award at a formal ceremony in Stockholm on December 10, the anniversary of prize founder Alfred Nobel's death in 1896.

Last year, the award went to Chinese novelist Mo Yan.