Annie Ernaux to announce shock retirement?

Sad news for Ernaux fans. Speculation had been rife that Nobel Prize in Literature 2022 is about to announce her retirement from all public activities, at age 85, with immediate effect.

UPDATE 21/05/2026 : This story seems to be false. (read more)

Being an author isn't fun anymore

“As we get older, there are phases of life that we enter into, and being an author-Nobel laureate just isn't fun anymore,” she might have said, says a source who remained anonymous. Other reports hinted that she may branch out into other creative fields she is better at (and more interested in), though they didn't provide any details.

#ThankYouAnnie

For a little while on Wednesday evening, #ThankYouAnnie was a trending hashtag on Twitter. As many fans reminisce and look back on all the unforgettable memories, some may wonder what about now made her make the decision.

“Annie Ernaux was unlike any other author we’ve ever seen! #ThankYouAnnie”
— @universalObserver, 20 May 2026

“I thought Annie Ernaux retired about 5 years ago?!?”
— @millythom, 20 May 2026

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