This archive report was first published on 10 October 2019.
Polish author Olga Tokarczuk has won the Nobel Prize in Literature, a decision that has sparked both praise and criticism from politicians and writers. The award, announced on October 10, 2019, is the latest in a long line of controversies surrounding the prize.
Tokarczuk, a prominent and outspoken figure in Poland, has been a vocal critic of the country's right-wing government. Her novel, 'The Books of Jacob,' which celebrates Poland's cultural diversity, won the country's top literary prize, the Nike Award, in 2015. However, the novel drew a sharp rebuke from nationalist groups, and Tokarczuk faced a harassment campaign, including death threats and calls for her deportation.
Despite the backlash, Tokarczuk has continued to speak out against the government's policies. In January 2019, she wrote an opinion piece for The New York Times on the state of the country after the murder of a leading liberal mayor. 'I worry about our immediate future,' she said.
However, not everyone has been critical of Tokarczuk's work. Piotr Glinski, the Polish culture minister, congratulated her on her Nobel Prize, saying that it was 'proof that Polish culture is appreciated all over the world.' Donald Tusk, the president of the European Council and former prime minister of Poland, also offered his congratulations, saying that he had read all of her books from start to finish.
The Nobel Prize in Literature has a long history of controversy. In 1974, the academy gave the prize to two Swedish writers, Eyvind Johnson and Harry Martinson, sparking a scandal. 'Mutual admiration is one thing, but this smells almost like embezzlement,' wrote Sven Delblanc, another Swedish author.
Other notable controversies surrounding the prize include Bob Dylan's win in 2016, which prompted weeks of debate about whether a songwriter should win a literature award. Jodi Picoult, the novelist, wrote on Twitter: 'I'm happy for Bob Dylan, #ButDoesThisMeanICanWinAGrammy?'
