Sweden’s ‘New Academy’ Nominations List, Curated by Librarians, Is Open for Votes

In News by Porter Anderson

Timed to dissolve itself on December 12, the New Academy will use public votes and a jury to honor an author in a year in which the Swedish Academy will not produce a Nobel Prize for literature.

A politically reactive gesture, the New Academy’s call for public votes on its nominated authors uses the phrasing ‘Join the Movement’ on the program’s site.

By Porter Anderson, Editor-in-Chief | @Porter_Anderson

Public Voting Closes August 14
Referred to by some as an alternative Nobel Prize for literature—while allegations of sexual misconduct have disrupted the Swedish Academy’s award program for this year—the New Academy has been put together by a consortium of writers, journalists and others to confer an award this autumn. Public voting has opened on the list of authors in contention for the award.

As The Guardian’s Alison Flood has written earlier this month, the New Academy effort “is inviting all of Sweden’s librarians to nominate authors.

“Contenders can come from anywhere in the world, and must have written at least two books, one of which was published in the last 10 years. They are looking for a writer who has told the story of ‘humans in the world’—in contrast to the Nobel, which is intended to honor the writer who has penned, in the words of Alfred Nobel’s will, ‘the most outstanding work in an ideal direction.'”

To be eligible for consideration, a writer must have published two works within the last 10 years, and can come from any part of the world.

In its mission statement, the New Academy’s self-description is pointedly reactive to the political context in which it has been created—with a timed dissolution of itself built into its plan. As part of its home page design, the program invites visitors to “Join the Movement” by voting.

“In a time when human values are increasingly being called into question,” that statement reads, “literature becomes the counterforce of oppression and a code of silence. It is now more important than ever that the world’s greatest literary prize should be awarded.

“The New Academy is a nonprofit organization, politically and financially independent. It consists of a wide range of knowledgeable individuals. The New Academy works within the time frame of the Swedish Academy and in five different committees.”

The timing of the awards process announced is:

  • October 14: Announcement of the 2018 winner
  • December 10: Award ceremony
  • December 11: Dissolution of the New Academy

Jurors for the prize are:

  • Ann Pålsson, editor and independent publisher
  • Lisbeth Larsson, professor of literature, Gothenburg University
  • Marianne Steinsaphir,librarian and journalist in arts and culture
  • Peter Stenson, editor and critic
  • Gunilla Sandin, librarian director

What the public vote is to determine is a trio of contenders, and from that group the jurors are to choose the winner.

Authors Nominated by Librarians
  • Adichie Chimamanda Ngozi – Nigeria
  • Anyuru Johannes – Sweden
  • Atwood Margaret – Canada
  • Auster Paul – USA
  • Avallone Silvia – Italy
  • Bouraoui Nina – France
  • Carson Anne – Canada
  • Condé Maryse – Guadeloupe
  • DeLillo Don – USA
  • Edelfeldt Inger – Sweden
  • Ekman Kerstin – Sweden
  • Ferrante Elena – Italy
  • Gaiman Neil – Great Britain
  • Ganman Jens – Sweden
  • Hustvedt Siri – USA
  • Jägerfeld Jenny – Sweden
  • Khemiri Jonas Hassen – Sweden
  • Kincaid Jamaica – USA
  • Leviathan David – USA
  • Louis Édouard – France
  • Lundell Ulf – Sweden
  • Lövestam Sara – Sweden
  • McCarthy Cormac – USA
  • McEwan Ian – Great Britain
  • Murakami Haruki – Japan
  • Oates Joyce Carol – USA
  • Okorafor Nnedi – USA
  • Oksanen Sofi – Finland
  • Olafsdottir Audur Ava – Iceland
  • Oz Amos – Israel
  • Paborn Sara – Sweden
  • Pleijel Agneta – Sweden
  • Pynchon Thomas – USA
  • Robinson Marilynne – USA
  • Rosoff Meg – USA
  • Rowling J.K. – Great Britain
  • Roy Arundhati – India
  • Schiefauer Jessica – Sweden
  • Smith Patti – USA
  • Smith Zadie – Great Britain
  • Stamm Peter – Switzerland
  • Stefánsson Jón Kalman – Iceland
  • Stridsberg Sara – Sweden
  • Tartt Donna – USA
  • Thúy Kim – Canada
  • Tokarczuk Olga – Poland

This is the link to use to go directly to the page on which you can review the list and cast your vote.


More from Publishing Perspectives on publishing awards is here.

About the Author

Porter Anderson

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Porter Anderson has been named International Trade Press Journalist of the Year in London Book Fair's 2019 International Excellence Awards. He is Editor-in-Chief of Publishing Perspectives. He is also co-owner and editor with Jane Friedman of The Hot Sheet, the newsletter for trade and indie authors. He formerly was Associate Editor for The FutureBook at London's The Bookseller. Anderson also has worked as a senior producer, editor, and anchor with CNN.com, CNN International, and CNN USA, and as an arts critic (National Critics Institute) with The Village Voice and Dallas Times Herald.
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