Mo's work popular as he declares: Literature is useless

Per Wastberg, a writer, member of the Swedish Academy and chairman of the Nobel committee, said there is "never a dull moment" in Mo's writing. "He seems to carry all human life on the tip of his pen," Wastberg said.

"In Mo Yan, a forgotten peasant world arises, alive and well, before our eyes, sensually scented even in its most pungent vapors, startlingly merciless but tinged by joyful selflessness."

"Playfully, and with ill-disguised delight, he reveals the murkiest aspects of human existence, almost inadvertently finding images of strong symbolic weight."

At the banquet, Mo, who always insists that he is simply the son of a peasant, dressed in a black tuxedo and white tie for the event.

Unlike other laureates, he made his speech without a manuscript. He said he forgot his original speech in the hotel, but the words were all already in his mind.

The speech turned out to be a spontaneous one, different from the version posted on the website and sent to the media beforehand.

He was calm and relaxed, and his talk touched upon the two most important themes for him as a person and a writer ― his peasant roots, and the significance of literature.

"Compared with science, literature is useless. But to me, the most useful thing about literature is its uselessness," Mo said.

He also expressed his gratitude to translators. Without their work, literature would not become world literature, he said.

Mo said he views the award in a detached way.

"Many interesting things have happened since the (announcement of the) award. It shows the unshakable importance of the Nobel Prize in the world," he said.

"I am the son of a peasant from Shandong Gaomi, and I am able to get this award in such a splendid palace.

"This sounds like a fairytale, but it is certainly true."

Contact the writers at meijia@chinadaily.com.cn and diaoying@chinadaily.com.cn