what is up with the swedish academy's obsession with obscure writers?

[gustave dore]

Why does the academy award the nobel prize in literature to obscure writers? I think some of the recipients were writers who actually did need more exposure and that countries with strong literary traditions like Japan and China need more representation, but some of the people they hand the award is just ridiculous. The list of writers they missed the chance to award the prize to is long, and will grow longer as more of the greatest living writers are growing ancient and will soon die. Didn't they learn their mistakes when they missed on giants like Tolstoy or Joyce?

[nick mcglue]

Because it's entirely politicized. They actually said this award was a tribute to courage and suffering, when it's supposed to be about writing. That's why they snub White American male masters like Pynchon, Delillo, McCarthy, and Roth.

[OrphanPip]

Because it's entirely politicized. They actually said this award was a tribute to courage and suffering, when it's supposed to be about writing. That's why they snub White American male masters like Pynchon, Delillo, McCarthy, and Roth.

Nobel's endowment of the award outlined that the award should be political.

Also, the award isn't simply for literary fiction, but any form of literary production. As the most recent winner was awarded for writing investigative journalism and history not for fiction.

[Dreamwoven]

The Nobel Prize goes to an anti-Russian writer, so it is political, at a time when the bourgeois parties want Sweden to abandon its 200 years of armed neutrality and join NATO.

[prendrelemick]

Have you considered that she might've deserved it?

[ennison]

Of course they haven't considered.

[mortalterror]

Have you considered that she might've deserved it?

Sure, just look what she was wearing.

[nick mcglue]

Nobel's endowment of the award outlined that the award should be political.

Also, the award isn't simply for literary fiction, but any form of literary production. As the most recent winner was awarded for writing investigative journalism and history not for fiction.

That doesn't mean they can't nor shouldn't give the award to the most deserving writer. Also, there is nothing "apolitical" about any of those masters' writing, particularly Pynchon's and Delillo's.

And I never said the award was just for literary fiction; I have no idea why you brought that up.

[nick mcglue]

Have you considered that she might've deserved it?

Yes, I have, and looking at what she has written, she doesn't deserve it more than the writers I mentioned. However, if you would like to make a case for her, please do.

[Scheherazade]

Please do not personalise your arguments.

[OrphanPip]

And I never said the award was just for literary fiction; I have no idea why you brought that up.

The alternatives you suggested were all writers of primarily literary fiction.

I don't really get the reaction against her anyway. From what I can tell she's been a fairly highly regarded author in her home country and abroad. She's even won the book critics award in the US, so she's not even a nobody in the American literary world. Cormac McCarthy in comparison has received far less attention outside of the English speaking world. So I don't think it's as clear an open shut case that she is the obscure author and the few notable contemporary American authors are worldwide superstars.

[wordeater]

Maybe we should read one of her books first and judge afterwards.

[Scheherazade]

Maybe we should read one of her books first and judge afterwards.

Well, now there's an idea. My motto is, "don't trash it till you've read it."

[nick mcglue]

Please do not personalise your arguments.

I said this:

"Yes, I have, and looking at what she has written, she doesn't deserve it more than the writers I mentioned. However, if you would like to make a case for her, please do."

Asking someone to support their claim if they wish isn't personalizing the argument. Personalizing the argument is criticizing or attacking the person themselves when making the argument. As you can see, I did neither.

[nick mcglue]

Well, now there's an idea. My motto is, "don't trash it till you've read it."

Nobody's trashing Alkekeeevich, at least I wasn't. It's not a matter of her accomplishments, which are clearly substantial; it's a matter of the superior and sublime accomplishments of the four authors I mentioned who have been continually and unfairly snubbed.