The body responsible for awarding the Nobel prize for literature is in crisis
Jean-Claude Arnault, the husband of Katarina Frostenson, a member of the Swedish Academy, has been accused of sexually assaulting 18 women, including other academy members, their wives and daughters.
Although Mr Arnault denied the charges, the scandal has already led to three resignations.
King Carl XVI Gustaf, with Queen Silvia, left, and Crown Princess Victoria at the Nobel Prize Awards Ceremony in 2014
King Carl XVI Gustaf, the academy’s patron, expressed his sadness as the dispute boiled over into the worst crisis in its 232-year history.
The academy was founded in 1786 by King Gustaf III to advance Swedish language and literature. It began the literature prize in 1901 after being named in the will of Alfred Nobel and given the annual task of identifying “the person who shall have produced in the field of literature the most outstanding work in an ideal direction.” It was one of the five Nobel prizes he created.
According to the academy’s rules, a quorum of at least 12 members is necessary to make significant decisions such as electing a new member, although a simple majority is all that is needed to choose the prize winner.
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