Poland’s Reportage Institute hails Alexievich Nobel Prize

“Non-fiction literature has finally been recognised, which means that this is a great event for the whole community,” the Warsaw-based Reportage Institute said in a statement.

"[Polish author] Ryszard Kapuściński was once in the running for the top prize, but no reporter has ever been honoured with the award. Today’s decision is a recognition of reportage and literary non-fiction as proper literature with artistic value,” the Institute’s Julianna Jonek said.

"This year's Nobel literature laureate definitely deserved the award, and academics finally made the right choice,” said Mariusz Szczygieł, a journalist and reporter.

Ukrainian-born Belarusian writer Svetlana Alexievich first came to prominence with 'War's Unwomanly Face', her first documentary book which she wrote at the age of 23.

She went on to “expose the stark Soviet realities” with her later works, the BBC reported.

She had been nominated for the Nobel Prize for many years. She is the 14th woman to win the Prize. (rg/rk)