What is the nationality of Peter Handke (pictured), who was awarded the 2019 Nobel Prize for Literature?

Peter Handke (born 1942) is an Austrian novelist and dramatist, who has also worked in the cinema, and as a translator and poet. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2019, in recognition of the prowess with language that made him one of the most influential German-speaking writers of the latter half of the twentieth century.

His works include (standard English translation of the titles). "The Goalie's Anxiety at the Penalty Kick" (1970) and "The Left-Handed Woman" (1976).

His early life was overshadowed by his violent and abusive stepfather, and the subsequent suicide of his mother, which he drew on for his novella, "A Sorrow Beyond Dreams".

Whilst admiration for Handke's literary skill is fairly universal, his appointment as Nobel Laureate proved controversial, owing to his support for the former Serbian president and indicted war criminal Slobodan Milošević. This divided the literary world, with some vehemently condemning the decision, and others saying politics should not affect the award.