Hello
Gentle Reader
Since
the crisis of the Swedish Academy has started, the institution as a whole (if
it can still be called that) has remained silent on the internal matter, and
has allowed individual members speak out or air their own opinions of their volition;
which they often did, and with no surprise often added greater fuel to the
fire, as the academy found itself further slipping into a fragmented and shattered
mess from its former illusion of solidarity and unity. It showed the bitterness
that sits within the academy, one fit with caustic opinions, and vitriolic
perspectives; which many members saw fit to spit out in the open during the
events unfolding—including Sture Allen, Horace Engdahl, Göran Malmqvist, and
Kristina Lugn. Others saw fit to resign themselves from an institution now
smoldering in ruin, and have found support in their cause for resignation,
while others fight for them within the academy. Now at long last the Academy as
institution (or what is left of it) has released a lengthy statement concerning
the events which have transpired, and hopes to reconcile both with its former
members and reinstate trust with the public once again.
First
on the statement, the Swedish Academy has decided to release and hand over its
internal investigation to the authorities; the same investigation which it has
been reported earlier that Horace Engdahl wanted to cease and desist. The
Swedish Economic Crime Authority verified that it did receive the
investigation, but could not comment any further. The Swedish Academy retains
the opinion that the institution itself was not complacent with the assaults
that have taken place by a former member’s husband. However, it has confirmed
and confessed (as a whole) that the Permanent Secretary of the time (Sture
Allen) did receive a letter from a complainant in December of 1996, alleging
sexual assault by a well-known associate of the Academy at the time. Sture
Allen as the then Permanent Secretary discarded the letter as ‘irrelevant,’ and
of ‘no-importance,’ at the time. The Swedish Academy today: “deeply regrets
that the letter was put aside, which means no action was taken to investigate
it.” In other words: Sture Allen as Permanent Secretary of the time was I negligent
compliance with the assaults that took place, and subsequently two decades
later, has (intentionally or not) helped orchestrate the academy’s current
situation.
Second
the statement is sorrowful in its current status and wishes to reinstate and
gain the trust of public and patron as it moves forward. It wishes the members
who have resigned in protest to return to the Swedish Academy and reclaim their
honoured chairs. There has been no comment—as of yet—whether or not the
resigned member will seek to reclaim their chairs. Both Lotta Lotass and Kjell
Espmark have already drafted formal resignation requests to remove themselves
from the Swedish Academy. As for the others it is unclear what their decision
will be at this time.
Third
the Swedish Academy recognizes the financial aid it offered to the Cultural
Forum was in direct conflict of interest with its own statutes, as the forum
was co-owned with the former member Katarina Frostenson.
Fourth
the Swedish Academy stands by its royal patronages decision to amend the
statutes and allow members to resign from the Academy, and it hopes to further
amend its statutes and legal perspectives to ensure it is always in compliance
with outside judicial statutes and perspectives.
On
a final note, the Swedish Academy has released it cannot deny the recent events
have damaged the Nobel Prize for Literatures reputation. Despite this, the
Nobel Committee, for the Literature Prize (consisting of: Per Wästberg as Chairman, Anders Olsson temporary
Permanent Secretary, Kristina Lugn, and Horace Engdahl—associate members Sara
Danius and Katarina Frostenson have
since resigned) has continued on with its work, and intends to name to put
forward recommendations for this year’s Literature Laureate.
However,
it should be stated if the resigned members do not return, the Swedish Academy
still lacks a quorum to make any decisions such as electing new members, to
voting on the Nobel Prize for Literature.
The
statement in the end Gentle Reader does not bring any real closure to the
current crisis. It merely states a united front on the crisis, of the remaining
members, and offers the institutions perspective of the crisis, fit with
regret, confessions, and action being taken currently to rectify the situations
and to thwart future repeats. Again the fate of the Nobel Prize for Literature
and the Swedish Academy as it currently stands is unknown at this time.
Thank-you
For Reading Gentle Reader
Take
Care
And
As Always
Stay
Well Read
M.
Mary
For Further Reading --
http://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/swedish-academy-investigation-1.4628158
https://www.svt.se/kultur/svenska-akademien-om-advokatutredningen
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