In an interview with the AP, the Permanent Secretary of the Swedish Academy, which is responsible for choosing the Nobel Laureate in Literature, said that American literature is “too isolated, too insular” to compete for Nobel Prizes (The Associated Press, Svenska Dagbladet).
Sweden has won seven Nobel Prizes in Literature. That is remarkable considering its size. Can that, Mr Engdahl, have anything to do with the fact that the Swedish Academy picks the winner? If anything is insular it is the Academy itself.
There is of course another problem standing in the way of another American Nobel Laureate: America does not produce enough left-wing writers. Three out of the last four Nobel Laureates are more or less socialists. Short of Noam Chomsky, America does not have much offer.
The motto of the Swedish Academy is ‘Talent and Taste’. An open mind is clearly not part of that.
JDR
3 Comments
October 1, 2008 at 7:27 pm
Sweden has not won, ever, a Nobel literary price. Neither has any country. Seven Swedish authors have been awarded the Nobel literary price though. They have not won anything, they were awarded this honour.
October 1, 2008 at 9:47 pm
It´s the nobel PRIZE mr. Jernelius. A good Swedish friend of mine would say “Tänk först, tala sedan”
October 1, 2008 at 10:21 pm
“Win the nobel prize in literature” is the ´commonly used phrase. The New York Times, BBC and the guardian among others writes it as well, see below.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/11/world/11cnd-nobel.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6044192.stm
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2006/oct/12/nobelprize.awardsandprizes
Besides, we are financial economists and lawyers who love politics. Not literature or linguistic experts.
Thanks for reading our blog by the way!
Regards Glommy