For the first time since 1943, there’s a notable risk that no Nobel Prize in literature will be awarded this year.
A debate over how to face up to its flaws also divided its 18 members — who are appointed for life — into hostile camps and prompted seven members to leave or disassociate themselves from the secretive group.
The latest defection, announced Saturday, has left the prestigious institution with only 11 people to consider who should win the 2018 Nobel Prize in literature.
At its upcoming weekly meeting in Stockholm on Thursday, the Swedish Academy could decide to postpone or cancel awarding the prize this year — because it’s in no shape to pick a winner. Anders Olsson, the permanent secretary of the academy, hinted at that scenario in remarks to Swedish public broadcaster SR last week.
Rosendahl Thomsen, the literature professor in Denmark, said “it could be sensible” for the academy to postpone the 2018 literature prize until the internal issues are resolved.