There’s a vacancy (RIP, Lars Forssell) in the Swedish Academy, “that nominally 18-member strong group that decides who gets the Nobel Prize for Literature every year.” The Literary Saloon wonders who will succeed Forssell in Chair No. 4, and whether some fresh blood might push the academy in bold new (as opposed to bafflingly unpredictable) literary directions.
There may be more vacancies soon. Consider that “there are seven (!) other members born before 1930 (though one of those is Knut Ahnlund, who is still upset about the Jelinek award and apparently continues to refuse to play along in the annual game). Still, the average age should go down considerably. ...”
Future Nobel judges, whoever you are: Give one to Adonis if you must, but please skip Philip Roth. He has enough prizes already.
