Nominations for the 2015 Nobel Prize in Literature were due before 1 February, and at his weblog the still-in-charge-of-Nobel-matters (until the end of May) permanent secretary of the Swedish Academy, Peter Englund, now reports on the final numbers (but not, alas, the names).
259 names were suggested (2014: 271), resulting in 198 candidates (2014: 210) -- duplicate nominations, as well as ineligible suggestions (such as, say, now-deceased Assia Djebar) presumably accounting for the differential -- with 36 first-time nominations (2014: also 36).
They're looking to quickly cut the 198 down to 20 to 25 contenders, and then reach a shortlist of five by the end of May (when Englund steps down from this position, and Sara Danius takes over permanent-secretary- (and the associated Nobel-) duties).
Englund also takes this occasion to express his irritation at nominators and nominating bodies who reveal/leak the names they've submitted -- and even suggests that in future such nominations might be removed from consideration.
The rules do state: "Nominations are subject to complete secrecy" -- which I find unfortunate. As always, I'm for openness, and think it's far more troubling that nominations (and who made them) are kept secret. True, the Nobel Prize hardly needs the additional publicity, and the betting shops do a good job of stirring up a speculation-frenzy for it, but it'd also be a lot more fun if we knew who was -- at least at the outset -- in the running for each year's prize.
259 names were suggested (2014: 271), resulting in 198 candidates (2014: 210) -- duplicate nominations, as well as ineligible suggestions (such as, say, now-deceased Assia Djebar) presumably accounting for the differential -- with 36 first-time nominations (2014: also 36).
They're looking to quickly cut the 198 down to 20 to 25 contenders, and then reach a shortlist of five by the end of May (when Englund steps down from this position, and Sara Danius takes over permanent-secretary- (and the associated Nobel-) duties).
Englund also takes this occasion to express his irritation at nominators and nominating bodies who reveal/leak the names they've submitted -- and even suggests that in future such nominations might be removed from consideration.
The rules do state: "Nominations are subject to complete secrecy" -- which I find unfortunate. As always, I'm for openness, and think it's far more troubling that nominations (and who made them) are kept secret. True, the Nobel Prize hardly needs the additional publicity, and the betting shops do a good job of stirring up a speculation-frenzy for it, but it'd also be a lot more fun if we knew who was -- at least at the outset -- in the running for each year's prize.