He was chosen from among several prominent writers, including John Updike, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Saul Bellow, Gunter Grass and Muriel Spark.
Kadare je izabran u konkurenciji nekoliko istaknutih pisaca, uključujući Džona Apdajka, Gabrijela Garsiju Markesa, Sola Beloua, Gintera Grasa i Mjuriel Spark.