Swedish intellectuals form new literature prize in Nobel protest

STOCKHOLM — What do you do when this year’s Nobel Literature Prize, the world’s most prestigious accolade of its kind, is postponed because of a sexual assault scandal? You create your own award. More than 100 Swedish intellectuals have joined forces to form a new prize-giving body in protest after the Swedish Academy, which selects Nobel laureates, was plunged into crisis over its long-standing ties to a man accused of assaulting several women.

The alternative honor serves to denounce “bias, arrogance and sexism”, according to its founders The New Academy, whose members include authors, artists and journalists.

As the #MeToo movement has made waves globally, the Swedish Academy descended into turmoil in November when local media published the testimonies of 18 women claiming to have been raped, sexually assaulted or harassed by an influential French cultural figure who has long been connected to the institution.

The revelations led the Academy to announce in May there will be no Nobel Literature Prize this year, as disagreements on how to deal with the scandal sowed deep discord among its 18 members and prompted six to quit — including the first woman permanent secretary Sara Danius.

But for some the lack of a Nobel literature award for the first time in almost 70 years was unacceptable.

“Sweden is one of the world’s most democratic, transparent and genderequal countries ... it needs a great literary prize,” said columnist and one of the founders of the new prize, Alexandra Pascalidou.

The Swedish Academy’s members used to be appointed for life before its patron, Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf, was forced to change the statutes, making it possible for members to resign and be replaced.

Resigning member Kjell Espmark told the Dagens Nyheter newspaper that the institution had “given way to nepotism, attempts to cover up serious violations, stale macho values and arrogant bullying”.

Seen as the bearer of high culture, the Swedish Academy, founded in 1786, is traditionally known for its integrity and discretion, with meetings and decisions on prizes kept secret.

But the New Academy plans to make its prize-awarding process transparent.

“We want to create something which is open and inclusive and which allows people to contribute,” said Pascalidou.

The new literature award — which carries a prize of 1 million kronor (around 97,000 euros, $113,000) raised from crowdfunding and donations — will be handed out at a December 10 ceremony, the same day as the Nobel banquet.

Librarians across Sweden have been asked to nominate up to two authors, with a deadline set for July 8. Authors with the most nominations will then receive votes online from the public in Sweden and abroad.