The Playgoer: Nobel Prize on hold

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Friday, October 07, 2005

Nobel Prize on hold

The Swedish Academy has announced they are suddenly, mysteriously delaying the unveiling of the Nobel Prize for Literature by one more week, to October 13. Much speculation. But no one is raising the name of August Wilson. Again, I suppose Nobel doesn't do posthumous. But ya never know...

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

The delay can only mean disagreement about whether to give the prize to an American or not. Mark my words: Phillip Roth, ready your Nobel Acceptance speech -- that is, if you haven't already memorized it.

Anonymous said...

Much as I hate to get embroiled in these prize debates, I have to say ... August Wilson? August WILSON? Or Philip Roth, even? When there are so many others still around more deserving?

Could be they're finally going to give it to Ingmar Bergman (and that would explain the delay, either because Bergman's balking or the committee needs further convincing that screenplays are just as valid as novels or plays). How about Harold Pinter? Among Americans, Updike is probably short-listed (though, I'd agree, not as deserving as any of the others listed above).

I mean, not to knock Wilson or anything, or even Roth, but c'mon ...

Playgoer said...

I actually meant that to be a handicapping more than a value judgement. I've always bet that Wilson *would* get a Nobel eventually since his project seems to fit so well their definition of "an important writer." The Nobel folks are also always interested in awarding someone for their politics or the cultural respresentation....Today I saw in the AP names like Margaret Atwood and Joyce Carol Oats named in the guessing. Are they necessarily greater (even more consistent?) writers than Wilson?

Unknown said...

Is George suggesting that Pinter win for a second time?