Article: The Literary Politics of the Nobel Prize.(Essay)

The Nobel, the longest-running literary prize, has the greatest éclat . It has a dignified royal ceremony in Stockholm on December 10 (the anniversary of Alfred Nobel's death), grants the largest amount of money ($1.3 million last year), and generates the most publicity for the winner. But the Swedish Academy--often blind to real distinction and unduly influenced by geography and politics, race and gender--has frequently awarded it to mediocrities. Most of the greatest authors of the twentieth century have not won the prize. If we look at how decisions are made, we can see why the losers are often more impressive than the winners.

The ...

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