Pinter, Master of Menacing Drama, Wins Nobel Prize

In its citation, the Swedish Academy in Stockholm called Pinter "the foremost representative of British drama in the second half of the 20th century."

In frail health because of a three-year battle with cancer of the esophagus, Pinter told reporters outside his London home that he was delighted and surprised by the honor, which carries a cash reward of about $1.3 million.

He had not been among those identified as favorites for this year's prize, but the jury's choice met with immediate and widespread approval.

"I couldn't be happier. This is a brilliant choice," fellow British playwright David Hare said. Tom Stoppard called the award "wholly deserved."

Edward Albee, in a voicemail message, said, "He's a splendid writer and a good political activist. I can't think of a better choice."

"This is a terrific recognition of a truly remarkable modern writer," said Donald Margulies, who won the 2000 Pulitzer Prize for his play "Dinner With Friends." "His work is a compendium of so many themes that have become a part of Western culture. And he has had a profound effect on the way plays are constructed."

Pinter is recognized for his ability to distill the sense of uncertainty and dread that afflicts contemporary culture into small, intense scenes that vibrate with peril, mystery and dark irony. His themes and his style have influenced many of today's playwrights.

The Swedish Academy said Pinter's work "uncovers the precipice under everyday prattle and forces entry into oppression's closed rooms." His influence on his art is such that the term "Pinteresque" has come to describe "a particular atmosphere and environment in drama," it said.

Always politically engaged, Pinter has explored oppression in his art and in public life. As a teenage conscientious objector, he had to appear before a magistrate to answer for his refusal to participate in Britain's national service. He has been a vociferous defender of human rights and an opponent of the war in Iraq.

In recent years, he has labeled British Prime Minister Tony Blair a "war criminal" and the United States "a country run by a bunch of criminals" with Blair its "hired Christian thug." He added his name last year to a short-lived bid seeking Blair's impeachment.