Two Nobel Prizes in Literature Awarded After 2018 ‘Scandal’

Polish writer Olga Tokarczuk and Austrian author Peter Handke were awarded the Literary Nobel for 2018 and 2019.

On Thursday, 10 October, the Swedish Academy announced two Nobel Laureates: Austrian author Peter Handke for 2019 and Polish author Olga Tokarczuk for the deferred 2018 award.

BREAKING NEWS:
The Nobel Prize in Literature for 2018 is awarded to the Polish author Olga Tokarczuk. The Nobel Prize in Literature for 2019 is awarded to the Austrian author Peter Handke.#NobelPrize pic.twitter.com/CeKNz1oTSB

— The Nobel Prize (@NobelPrize) October 10, 2019

The two Nobel Prizes in literature were announced after the 2018 ‘scandal’ involving sexual assault allegations against Swedish cultural heavyweight, Jean-Claude Arnault, whose wife was a member of the Nobel’s selection committee. Arnault was convicted last year in two rape cases, an Associate Press report said.

According to the report, in March, the foundation behind the Nobel Prize in Literature said the Swedish Academy had ‘revamped itself’ and ‘restored trust’. The Nobel Foundation had warned that another group could be picked to award the prize if the academy didn’t improve its ‘tarnished image’.

The Nobel Prize in Literature 2017 had been awarded to Kazuo Ishiguro.

Among the favourites for the literature award this year were Canadian poet Anne Carson, novelists Maryse Condé of Guadeloupe, Can Xue of China and Canadian writer Margaret Atwood, according to Associated Press. Japanese author Haruki Murakami and Kenyan writer Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o were also among netizens’ favourites.

Critics and Literary Enthusiasts Congratulate Winners

Here’s how netizens reacted to the news:

Oh gosh I am so happy about Olga Tokarczuk winning the 2018 @NobelPrize for literature. And for me such a privilege to have been on the jury which shortlisted one of her books, Drive Your Plow Over The Bones of the Dead, for the @TheBookerPrizes International this year.

— The Writer Formerly Known As Elnathan (@elnathan_john) October 10, 2019

So, the @NobelPrize
for Literature goes to Olga Tokarczuk for 2018 and to Peter Handke for 2019.

(Yay for translators @jenniferlcroft and Antonia Lloyd‑Jones)

— Arunava Sinha (@arunava) October 10, 2019

Glad Peter Handke has been awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature 2019!
It is shared by Olga Tokarczuk whom I am yet to read. Should remedy that soon.

— Seemita Pooja (@Sing_Along_Life) October 10, 2019

Congrats Olga Tocarszuk for the Nobel Prize in Literature and Thank you for being a courageous voice against racism and intolerance. Impressive how you stand strong and don’t let ultra-nationalist threats and hate silence you! I look forward to hear your speech. #NobelPrize2018

— Alexandra Pascalidou (@pascalidou) October 10, 2019

Congratulations: Olga Tokarczuk wins the Nobel Prize for Literature for 2018 and Peter Handke wins for 2019, two European authors. I was hoping that this year it would go to my native East African Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o.#NobelPrize2019 #Literature

— Dr. Jama Musse Jama (@JamaMusse) October 10, 2019

Some Question Handke’s ‘Glorification’ of Milošević

While most were glad about the news, some also commented on Handke’s ‘glorification’ of Slobodan Milošević, the Yugoslav and Serbian politician who, during the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia in 1999, was charged by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) with war crimes in connection to the wars in Bosnia, Croatia, and Kosovo.

Shame! What would happen if someone who glorified Hitler would win the @NobelPrize for Literature?!#PeterHandke glorified Milosevic, the Butcher of Balkans and a person that died in jail accused of crimes against humanity! #shame #nobelprize #WarCriminals

— Adriatik Kelmendi (@adriatikk) October 10, 2019

We've been talking about Ellen and George W. Bush, and now we have the Nobel Prize for literature going to Peter Handke, a man who maintained that Milosevic didn't do anything wrong at all, I mean

— Kloi S. Engel (@shkrimtare) October 10, 2019

Klar! Peter Handke is a fascist! The right moment, to get the Nobel prize for literature! https://t.co/KPzSjTFPYy

— Murekar Pavla (@murekar) October 10, 2019

To give @NobelPrize in #literature to Handke is a shame, because he is more known for his fascist ideas than a literary talent. To all those who behave irresponsibly, he attended the funeral of the butcher of the #Balkans Milosevic, responsible for thousands of deaths in #Europe.

— Dr. Ukë Maxharraj (@ukemaxharraj) October 10, 2019

Awarding Milošević apologist and genocide denier Peter Handke is an interesting way of reviving credibility in the Nobel Prize for Literature.

— Gerard, if any, Corvin (@GerardCorvin) October 10, 2019

#NobelPrize Literature winner Peter Handke is 'apologist for far-right Serbian nationalism' who spoke at funeral of Slobodan Milošević and accused Sarajevo's Muslims of massacring themselves...🤔 https://t.co/ADYkhknOEM

— Adam Sherwin (@adamsherwin10) October 10, 2019

Nobel’s ‘Diversity Problem’ Continues, Say Tweeple

A number of Twitter users pointed out Nobel’s continuing ‘diversity problem’.

Nobel prize literature committee: “we had a more Eurocentric perspective on literature, and now we are looking all over the world”
Also Nobel prize literature committee: And the winners for 2018 and 2019 are two white people from Poland & Austria, famously Not European Countries

— Laura (@alicetragedy) October 10, 2019

Today we have one woman and one man. Both white despite claims that after the scandal last year the Nobel prize for literature will address its diversity problem.

Before you say gender balance is different for literature: 14 women and 113 men got the Nobel Prize for Literature. https://t.co/0CAX5dfVPL

— Silvia Caldararu 🌱 (@SCaldararu) October 10, 2019

The coveted Nobel Peace Prize is scheduled to be announced on Friday and the Economics award on Monday.

(With inputs from Associated Press.)