Sales of Nobel laureate Anne Carson's books jump 138-fold in South Korea

Sales of Canadian author Anne Carson's books jumped in South Korea after she was named the Nobel Prize in Literature laureate, with her signature work "Autobiography of Red" topping bestseller charts at major bookstores. Some publishers have sold through their entire stock and are preparing additional print runs.

According to Kyobo Book Centre, sales of Carson's books increased 138-fold from Thursday evening — when the Nobel committee announced the winner — through Friday morning, compared with the period before the announcement.

The best-selling title was "Autobiography of Red," Carson's signature work that retells the myth of Geryon, the red monster slain by Heracles, from the creature's own perspective. "Nox," written in memory of Carson's late brother, came in second, followed by "The Beauty of the Husband," "Eros the Bittersweet" and "Short Talks," in that order.

The surge was reflected in individual bookstore rankings. "Autobiography of Red" topped Kyobo Book Centre's online daily bestseller list as of Thursday. "Nox" and "The Beauty of the Husband" also entered the top 10, ranking sixth and eighth, respectively.

On Aladin's bestseller chart the same day, "Autobiography of Red" and "Nox" claimed the top two spots. On YES24, "Anne Carson" ranked as the most-searched term as of 10:30 a.m. Friday.

The flood of orders prompted publishers to scramble for stock. Publisher Nanda said orders surged after the announcement, exhausting its entire inventory, and that it would need to print and distribute additional copies after the Hangul Day holiday.

Nine of Carson's books have been published in Korean translation. Nanda has released "Eros the Bittersweet," "Short Talks," "Glass, Irony and God" and "Plainwater." Hankyoreh Publishing has put out "Autobiography of Red," "The Beauty of the Husband" and "Red Doc>," while Bomnalui Chaek has published "Float" and "Nox."

Meanwhile, Carson — a poet, classicist and translator — has built a body of work that reinterprets ancient literature through a modern lens, moving fluidly between poetry and prose, creation and criticism. The Swedish Academy recognized her for the originality with which she engages in dialogue with classical tradition while forging new forms in contemporary literature, naming her this year's Nobel Prize in Literature laureate.