No Nobel in Literature This Year

issybird · 05-04-2018, 07:57 AM

The Swedish academy won't be announcing a Nobel Prize in Literature this year because of the sex abuse scandal involving a prominent member, despite having a short list of five nominations. Instead, it will postpone this year's decision to next year, when it will award two Nobels.

New York Times

poohbear_nc · 05-04-2018, 09:00 AM

This could be tragic news for the authors shortlisted this year -- The prize is only awarded to living authors.

Philippe D. · 05-04-2018, 10:08 AM

I thought something similar, but, well, the real tragic news for any living authors who might have gotten it this year, and be dead the next, is really that they might be dead next year. And once you're dead, you're not supposed to be care much whether you ever got a Nobel prize.

DuckieTigger · 05-05-2018, 03:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Philippe D.

I thought something similar, but, well, the real tragic news for any living authors who might have gotten it this year, and be dead the next, is really that they might be dead next year. And once you're dead, you're not supposed to be care much whether you ever got a Nobel prize.

That might be true if only the author is concerned. It does add to the legacy and adds value to the inheritance / estate.

frahse · 05-06-2018, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by issybird

The Swedish academy won't be announcing a Nobel Prize in Literature this year because of the sex abuse scandal involving a prominent member, despite having a short list of five nominations. Instead, it will postpone this year's decision to next year, when it will award two Nobels.

New York Times

Well, Rats! I guess I will have to wait again.

rkomar · 05-06-2018, 11:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frahse

Well, Rats! I guess I will have to wait again.

It won't hurt to pump out a few more contributions in the meantime. Don't make things too hard for the committee.

crich70 · 05-07-2018, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by poohbear_nc

This could be tragic news for the authors shortlisted this year -- The prize is only awarded to living authors.

And think of the lost revenue on the winner's writings. Certainly there will be some of that due to delayed publicity. Not to mention that you then have to share the spotlight with the winner from next year rather than standing alone by yourself. Plus there are the four alsorans who have to wait another whole year to find out that they've lost this year. Not fair on them either.

GlenBarrington · 05-07-2018, 01:53 PM

This is one of those awards that I take note of (tradition, I guess). But in truth, it doesn't affect my buying or reading decisions in any way. For me, it's a vague interest.

Greg Anos · 05-07-2018, 02:15 PM

Yep, somebody did an evil act, and other people who had nothing to do with it are paying for it.

Sounds like humanity at its finest. . .

kyteflyer · 05-07-2018, 04:39 PM

I was interested to see that they got rid of the woman who blew the whole thing apart. Typical reaction of a group of people wanting to preserve the status quo. "Don't rock the boat".

DNSB · 05-07-2018, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kyteflyer

I was interested to see that they got rid of the woman who blew the whole thing apart. Typical reaction of a group of people wanting to preserve the status quo. "Don't rock the boat".

I seem to remember that 3 members of the academy resigned after Katarina Frostenson did not have her membership revoked followed by ejection of the permanent secretary Sara Danius a couple of days later and Frostenson another day or so later -- I'm not sure about whether Sara Stridsberg resigned before or after Frostenson. Given that Frostenson is likely the person who supplied confidential information to her husband, Jean-Claude Arnault who is accused of giving out information before the formal announcement of prizewinner's names and that Arnault is also the center of a sexual harassment scandal, I am not surprised by the attempt to revoke her membership and do find the people who voted to keep Frostenson as a member of the academy as being contemptible.

I would disagree as well that Sara Danius blew the whole thing apart though she led the attempt to revoke Frostenson's membership -- that credit would belong a Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter which ran the story about Arnault's sexual harassment issues and also broke the story about Arnault leaking the names of seven prize winners prior to the public announcement leading to some rather large bets being won.

When 5 of the 16 members resigned, I would not categorize any of them as a sacrificial lamb.

fjtorres · 05-08-2018, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by issybird

The Swedish academy won't be announcing a Nobel Prize in Literature this year because of the sex abuse scandal involving a prominent member, despite having a short list of five nominations. Instead, it will postpone this year's decision to next year, when it will award two Nobels.

New York Times

It wasn't just about sexual abuse.
He was using Academy resources for personal lucre. And his wife and others were involved.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/201...obel-deadlock/

Quote:

Frostenson’s French husband Jean-Claude Arnault has been accused of sexual harassment, financial improprieties, and leaking the names of at least seven Nobel prize-winners, including the singer Bob Dylan in 2016.

Quote:

Earlier this spring, Hammarskiöld reported that Arnault had leaked the names of seven Nobel prize-winners, claiming the finding was backed by "seven witnesses which were both trustworthy and independent of one another”.

The firm also reported that amongst other financial improprieties he had failed to declare that he was part owner of The Forum, a cultural venue in Stockholm which received substantial Academy funding.

They also accused him of “improper use” of the Academy’s Paris apartment, which he reportedly treated so much as his own that he attached his name plate to the door.

The leaks most likely were not cheaply bought.

They need the time to investigate what went on and who got what.

frahse · 05-09-2018, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ralph Sir Edward

Yep, somebody did an evil act, and other people who had nothing to do with it are paying for it.

Sounds like humanity at its finest. . .

It is an art that we have honed well and become particularly good at.

DNSB · 05-09-2018, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frahse

It is an art that we have honed well and become particularly good at.

What was that quote. "To punish the innocent and reward the guilty" comes to mind.

Thasaidon · 05-10-2018, 07:22 AM

Does the Nobel prize for Literature matter to anyone but the prizewinner?

Seeing this thread made me look at past prizewinners. Most I had never heard of. The prizes given to poets I can understand why I have not heard of them as I read very little poetry.

But even most of the names of prizewinners who were labelled novelists and/or short story writers were unknown to me.

I like to think I am a well read literate bookworm and so I would have thought I would have known most of the prizewinners' names.

Alternatively is the prize usually awarded for political reasons or by an elite to writers who belong to the literary elite.

In any event how widely read are most prizewinners, do you think?

05-04-2018, 07:57 AM	#1
issybird o saeclum infacetum Posts: 21,517 Karma: 236076651 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: New England Device: Mini, H2O, Glo HD, Aura One, PW4, PW5	No Nobel in Literature This Year The Swedish academy won't be announcing a Nobel Prize in Literature this year because of the sex abuse scandal involving a prominent member, despite having a short list of five nominations. Instead, it will postpone this year's decision to next year, when it will award two Nobels. New York Times

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05-04-2018, 09:00 AM	#2
poohbear_nc Bah! Humbug! Posts: 64,228 Karma: 135242149 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Durham, NC Device: Every Kindle Ever Made & To Be Made!	This could be tragic news for the authors shortlisted this year -- The prize is only awarded to living authors.

05-04-2018, 10:08 AM	#3
Philippe D. Addict Posts: 276 Karma: 3600000 Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: France Device: Kobo Aura H2o; reMarkable; Onyx Max 2 Pro	I thought something similar, but, well, the real tragic news for any living authors who might have gotten it this year, and be dead the next, is really that they might be dead next year. And once you're dead, you're not supposed to be care much whether you ever got a Nobel prize.

05-07-2018, 01:53 PM	#8
GlenBarrington Cheese Whiz Posts: 1,986 Karma: 11677147 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Springfield, Illinois Device: Kindle PW, Samsung Tab A 10.1(2019), Pixel 6a.	This is one of those awards that I take note of (tradition, I guess). But in truth, it doesn't affect my buying or reading decisions in any way. For me, it's a vague interest.

05-07-2018, 02:15 PM	#9
Greg Anos Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,546 Karma: 37057604 Join Date: Jan 2008 Device: Pocketbook	Yep, somebody did an evil act, and other people who had nothing to do with it are paying for it. Sounds like humanity at its finest. . .

05-07-2018, 04:39 PM	#10
kyteflyer Wizard Posts: 1,845 Karma: 9547754 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Newcastle, Australia Device: iPhone 12 Mini	I was interested to see that they got rid of the woman who blew the whole thing apart. Typical reaction of a group of people wanting to preserve the status quo. "Don't rock the boat".

05-10-2018, 07:22 AM	#15
Thasaidon Hedge Wizard Posts: 802 Karma: 19999999 Join Date: May 2011 Location: UK/Philippines Device: Kobo Touch, Nook Simple	Does the Nobel prize for Literature matter to anyone but the prizewinner? Seeing this thread made me look at past prizewinners. Most I had never heard of. The prizes given to poets I can understand why I have not heard of them as I read very little poetry. But even most of the names of prizewinners who were labelled novelists and/or short story writers were unknown to me. I like to think I am a well read literate bookworm and so I would have thought I would have known most of the prizewinners' names. Alternatively is the prize usually awarded for political reasons or by an elite to writers who belong to the literary elite. In any event how widely read are most prizewinners, do you think?

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