The Birdcage Archives

Friday, 26 April 2019

Mats Malm Named the New Permanent Secretary of The Swedish Academy


Hello Gentle Reader

Hot on the heels of yesterday’s post, The Swedish Academy has announced that Mats Malm has been named the incoming Permanent Secretary of the Swedish Academy.

Who then is Mats Malm?

Mats Malm, is one of the newest inducted members to the Swedish Academy, only sitting on the Swedish Academy for four months, being elected to the academy on tail end of the crisis. This means Mats Malm has no previous bias established with the academy (at least not outright), and has no allegiances or alliances to the warring factions prior. As a whole, Mats Malm would at best be considered a complete neutral party to the events over the past year.

Mats Malm has his own credentials to this name; he’s a writer and a translator, as well as an established literary academic, currently a professor of Literary Sciences (or what would be considered criticism in other hemispheres and locations) at the University of Gothenburg. Beyond his work as a university professor, member of the Swedish Academy, translator, academic and writer, he is also the director of the not-for profit organization: Swedish Literature Bank, which seeks to digitalize classical works of Swedish literature and literary criticism, freely available and accessible through digital media formats.

Though a relatively new member to the institution, Mats Malm is considered a working-horse, devote to his pursuits of literature and academic work, which will be reflected in his work with the Swedish Academy as Permanent Secretary. The fact that he has no prior dealings or blatant biases towards the previous scandal also plays in his favour. He has been described by Ander Olsson as a calm and sensible individual, one who is more than prepared to continue the reforms of the academy.  

Mats Malm will officially take the position as Permanent Secretary on June 1st. On October 10th he will have his first test as Permanent Secretary when he will reveal to the world the two Laureates of Literature.

Congratulations to Mats Malm, best of luck in the role, though it will not be an easy one and there is still a lot of work to be done; but congratulations all the same! 

Thank-you For Reading Gentle Reader
Take Care
And As Always
Stay Well Read

M. Mary

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