Swedish Academy to award two Nobel Literature Prizes for 2018, 2019

The Swedish Academy is set to announce two Nobel Prize for literature for both 2018 and 2019 after they postponed last year’s award over an alleged sexual harassment scandal. The Board of Directors of the Nobel Foundation claim the Academy has taken required measures and has decided not to include any members who are subject to conflict of interest or criminal investigations. The award was postponed after the controversy around Jean-Claude Arnault, the husband of Academy member Katarina Frostenson, who was later convicted of rape.

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Changes in regulations and statute

“During the past year, the Nobel Foundation has had a close dialogue with the Swedish Academy about the problems that arose in late 2017 and early 2018. Several important changes have been implemented since then,” the Nobel Prize Foundation had said in a statement. “The Academy's regulations have been amended, making it possible for members to resign. The statutes have been clarified,” it further read.

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New members in the selection committee

After the controversy, the Academy elected new members for the selection committee and also made amendments to include five independent external members. The composition of the committee has been changed to ensure that no member related to such controversial incidents are included. In order to repair its reputation, the Swedish Academy has made changes in the regulations, organisational structure and working methods. “The new system is applied to both the 2018 and 2019 prizes,” read the statement. The Foundation believes that it will take time to fully restore the confidence in the Academy but the prerequisites for this is now good. “Given the reforms that have been implemented and planned, the Swedish Academy has the opportunity not only to put the past year behind it but also to become a better-functioning organisation in the future,” said the Foundation. 

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Speculations about the frontrunners

According to some media reports, poet Anne Carson and novelist Margaret Atwood are the frontrunners for this much-awaited prize.

“I am very excited about it, of course, the reactions to this great event. Two prizes of literature, that is something exceptional. Of course it, extremely exciting to see how people will react to this comeback of this Nobel prize,” said Anders Olsson, chair of the Nobel Committee of the Swedish Academy. 

The prize will be announced at 1100 GMT. 

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