The Nobel Prize in Literature from an Alternative Universe

[pegkerr]

Ted Gioia indulges in a lovely daydream:

"I had a hunch a woman writer living in England would win the Nobel Prize in Literature this year. But I still wasn't prepared for the thrill I experienced when I learned that J.K. Rowling had won the coveted prize. After all, who has done more for the cause of reading in recent decades? The last time a British woman had received this honor was back in 1966 when Dame Agatha Christie shared the award with Jorge Luis Borges. I expect Rowling's acceptance speech will rank among the most memorable. (Although it's hard to imagine anything topping that moment in 1997, when Dr. Hunter S. Thompson mounted the podium in Stockholm to share his surprising sentiments with the audience.) . . ."

No, this is not the real Nobel Prize in Literature, but the way the award might exist in an alternative universe -- a world in which such honors are exempt from pettiness, politics and tokenism. Imagine a Nobel Prize in which the contributions of Proust, Kafka, Nabokov and Joyce are not forgotten. Imagine a Nobel Prize in Literature in which genre writers have a chance. Imagine a Nobel Prize in Literature that doesn't bend over backward to exclude native born U.S. writers (only three honored during the last 52 years!). Ah, don't just imagine . . . read about it here.

For my part, I'm just happy the committee from the alternative universe honored Philip K. Dick three years before his passing.

Well? What do you think of his proposed list of winners? (J.K. Rowling wins it for the year 2007.)

Comments

[johnridley.livejournal.com]

Yes, the list seems to be mainly things that are popular. All of us have loved works by people on that list, but I think the Nobel is about seeking out extraordinary talent, perhaps talent that would not otherwise get deserved recognition.

This list seems to be a popularity contest. There's already an award for popularity; it's called "getting paid." I don't think most of the people on that list would appreciate the Nobel prize as much as the people who have actually received it have, nor would it help their careers as much.