Nobel Prize in literature

Japanese Nobel Prize winning author Kenzaburo Oe poses in March 2012 during the inauguration of the 32nd Paris Book Fair, which focused on Japanese writers.

Japan's Kenzaburo Oe, a Nobel-winning author of poetic fiction, dies at 88

8:46am March 13, 2023

by The Associated Press

Oe's works, including The Catch and A Personal Matter, were built from his childhood memories during Japan's postwar occupation and from being the parent of a disabled son.

A still from the 1961 Hindi film Kabuliwala, directed by Hemen Gupta.

This 19th-century short story might help combat racism against refugees today

2:39pm December 10, 2021

by Lauren Frayer

India's Rabindranath Tagore was the first nonwhite writer to win the Nobel Prize in literature. His 1892 story, "The Kabuliwala," fostered empathy for migrants and refugees. It still resonates today.

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Abdulrazak Gurnah, a Tanzanian-born novelist and academic who lives in the U.K., poses with his 2021 Nobel Prize in Literature medal after being presented it at the Swedish ambassador's residence in London.

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Arts

No black-tie dinner with the Swedish king for this year's Nobel Prize winners

6:23pm December 06, 2021

by Mia Estrada

Instead, most of the laureates are receiving their awards in their home countries because the pandemic has disrupted the ceremonies yet again.

Poet Louise Glück received the the National Humanities Medal from President Barack Obama in 2016. On Wednesday, Glück was awarded the 2020 Nobel Prize in Literature.

Nobel Prize In Literature Awarded To U.S. Poet Louise Glück

10:46am October 08, 2020

The 2020 Nobel Prize in literature was awarded to U.S. poet Louise Glück "for her unmistakable poetic voice that with austere beauty makes individual existence universal."

Polish author Olga Tokarczuk (left) won the postponed 2018 Nobel Prize for literature and Austrian novelist and playwright Peter Handke won the 2019 award. The Swedish Academy did not hand out a prize last year due to scandal.

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Arts

Nobel Prizes In Literature Go To Olga Tokarczuk And Peter Handke

9:28am October 10, 2019

by Colin Dwyer

The Swedish Academy made the unusual move Thursday of recognizing both Handke, an Austrian writer, and Tokarczuk, who is Polish, after scandal prevented the committee from awarding a prize last year.

The last Nobel Prize in Literature winner was Kazuo Ishiguro, who took the honor in 2017. The Swedish Academy will award two literary prizes in 2019, the Nobel Foundation says.

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Arts

Nobel Foundation Confirms It Will Award 2 Literature Prizes In 2019, With Changes

2:18pm March 05, 2019

by Bill Chappell

A year after the Swedish Academy faced a crisis, the body "no longer includes any members who are subject to conflict of interest or criminal investigations," the Nobel Foundation says.

Jean-Claude Arnault is escorted on Nov. 12 after the first day of his appeal trial in Stockholm. Arnault challenged his conviction for rape, but instead of throwing out the conviction, the appeals court extended his sentence.

Swedish Cultural Figure Appeals Rape Conviction, Is Given Longer Sentence

4:06pm December 03, 2018

by Camila Domonoske

Jean-Claude Arnault's sex abuse scandal has roiled the Swedish Academy, which selects the Nobel Prize in Literature. His appeal of his Oct. 1 conviction has backfired.

A court in Stockholm has found cultural figure Jean-Claude Arnault guilty of rape. He's seen here leaving on the final day of hearings in his trial. The turmoil unleashed by the case prompted the Swedish Academy to postpone this year's Nobel Literature Pr

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Court Sends Jean-Claude Arnault To Prison For Rape; Key Figure In Nobel Scandal

12:47pm October 01, 2018

by Bill Chappell

After allegations against Arnault became public in November, it emerged that he had also apparently assaulted Sweden's heir apparent, Crown Princess Victoria,

Anders Olsson, the acting permanent secretary of the Swedish Academy, announces that the Swedish Academy has decided to postpone the award of the 2018 Nobel literature prize.

World News

Amid Sex-Abuse Scandal, Swedish Academy Won't Award Nobel In Literature This Year

11:00am May 04, 2018

by Scott Neuman

It would mark the first time since World War II that the body failed to award the prestigious prize. Last month, the academy's permanent secretary quit over her handling of the allegations.

Protesters gathered earlier this month outside Stockholm's Old Stock Exchange building, where the Swedish Academy meets. Demonstrators showed support for resigned Permanent Secretary Sara Danius by wearing her hallmark tied blouse.

Literature Nobel In Doubt Amid Claims Swedish Princess Was Sexually Harassed

2:14pm May 01, 2018

by Colin Dwyer

The Swedish Academy was already reeling from sexual assault allegations against a man close to the group, which has been weighing whether to postpone this year's prize. Now, new claims have surfaced.