Samfundet De Nio (''The Nine Society'' or ''Society of the Nine'') is a Swedish

literary society A literary society is a group of people interested in literature. In the modern sense, this refers to a society that wants to promote one genre of writing or a specific author. Modern literary societies typically promote research, publish newslet ...

founded on 14 February 1913 in Stockholm by a testamentary donation from writer Lotten von Kraemer. The society has nine members who are elected for life. Its purpose is to promote Swedish literature, peace and women's issues. It mainly presents a number of

literary award A literary award or literary prize is an award presented in recognition of a particularly lauded Literature, literary piece or body of work. It is normally presented to an author. Organizations Most literary awards come with a corresponding award c ...

s. It was started as an alternative to the

Swedish Academy The Swedish Academy (), founded in 1786 by King Gustav III, is one of the Royal Academies of Sweden. Its 18 members, who are elected for life, comprise the highest Swedish language authority. Outside Scandinavia, it is best known as the body t ...

and is often compared to its more noted cousin.

Membership

Four seats are always held by women and four by men. Seat number one, the chair, alternates between men and women. Current members: Anna Williams (chair), Nina Burton, Jonas Ellerström, Gunnar Harding, Marie Lundquist,

Niklas Rådström Niklas Rådström (born 12 April 1953) is one of Sweden's most noted and prolific contemporary poets, novelists and playwrights. He is the son of the author Pär Rådström and theater director Anne Marie Rådström. Poetry Rådström made his d ...

, Madeleine Gustafsson, Sara Stridsberg, Johan Svedjedal Original members: Viktor Almquist (chair),

Selma Lagerlöf Selma Ottilia Lovisa Lagerlöf (, , ; 20 November 1858 – 16 March 1940) was a Swedish writer. She published her first novel, ''Gösta Berling's Saga'', at the age of 33. She was the first woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, which she was ...

, Karl Wåhlin,

Ellen Key Ellen Karolina Sofia Key (; 11 December 1849 – 25 April 1926) was a Swedes, Swedish difference feminist writer on many subjects in the fields of family life, ethics and education and was an important figure in the Modern Breakthrough movement. S ...

, Erik Hedén, Kerstin Hård af Segerstad, Göran Björkman, Anna-Maria Roos, John Landquist Some notable members over the years have been

Astrid Lindgren Astrid Anna Emilia Lindgren (; ; 14 November 1907 – 28 January 2002) was a Swedish writer of fiction and screenplays. She is best known for several children's book series, featuring Pippi Longstocking, Emil i Lönneberga, Emil of Lönneberga, ...

, Elin Wägner, Hjalmar Gullberg, Anders Olsson, Gunnel Vallquist,

Karin Boye Karin Maria Boye (; 26 October 1900 – 24 April 1941) was a Swedish poet and novelist. In Sweden, she is acclaimed as a poet, but internationally, she is best known for the dystopian science fiction novel '' Kallocain'' (1940). Biography Ea ...

, Sara Lidman, and Knut Ahnlund.

Prizes

* ''Samfundet De Nios stora pris'' (Grand Prize), the main prize to Swedish literary writers, has been awarded annually since 1921. ** Originally 10,000

Swedish krona The krona (; plural: ''kronor''; sign: kr; code: SEK) is the currency of Sweden. Both the ISO code "SEK" and currency sign "kr" are in common use for the krona; the former precedes or follows the value, the latter usually follows it but, espec ...

. it is 250 000 SEK (about €23,000 or US$32,000). * Lotten von Kraemer's prize (essays) * De Nios translator's prize * Stina Aronson's prize * John Landquist's prize (essayist/idea historian/critic) * Karl Vennberg's prize (young poets) * De Nios Winter prize * De Nios

prize *

Anders Anders is a male name in Scandinavian languages and Fering, Fering North Frisian, an equivalent of the Greek Andreas ("manly") and the English Andrew. It originated from Andres (name), Andres via metathesis (linguistics), metathesis. In Sweden, A ...

and Veronica Öhman's prize * De Nios Lyric poetry prize * De Nios Special prizesList of all winners

Winners of the Grand Prize

* 1916: E A Karlfeldt, Bertel Gripenberg,

Vilhelm Ekelund Vilhelm Ekelund (October 14, 1880 – September 3, 1949) was a Swedish poet. He is best known for his collections of poetry, such as ''Havets stjärna'' (1906), and ''Melodier i skymning'' (1902). His works often focus on the beauty of nature and ...

, Axel Lundegård, Hilma Angered Strandberg, Oscar Stjärne,

Verner von Heidenstam Carl Gustaf Verner von Heidenstam (6 July 1859 – 20 May 1940) was a Swedish poet, novelist and laureate of the 1916 Nobel Prize in Literature. He was a member of the Swedish Academy from 1912. His poems and prose work are filled with a great j ...

* 1917: K.G. Ossiannilsson, Marika Stiernstedt * 1919: K.G. Ossiannilsson * 1920: Hans Larsson * 1921: Olof Högberg * 1922: Tor Hedberg * 1923: Elin Wägner * 1924:

, Gustaf Ullman * 1925: Fredrik Vetterlund * 1926: Hjalmar Bergman * 1927: Sigfrid Siwertz * 1928: Ludvig Nordström,

Pär Lagerkvist Pär Fabian Lagerkvist (23 May 1891 – 11 July 1974) was a Swedish author who received the 1951 Nobel Prize in Literature. Lagerkvist wrote poetry, plays, novels, short stories, and essays of considerable expressive power and influence from hi ...

* 1929:

Per Hallström Per August Leonard Hallström (29 September 1866 – 18 February 1960) was a Swedish author, short-story writer, dramatist, poet and member of the Swedish Academy. He joined the academy in 1908, and served as its Permanent Secretary from 1 ...

, Axel Lundegård * 1930: Erik Blomberg, Bertel Gripenberg * 1931: Arvid Mörne, Ernst Didring * 1932: Emilia Fogelklou * 1933: K.G. Ossiannilsson * 1934:

Hjalmar Söderberg Hjalmar Emil Fredrik Söderberg (2 July 1869 – 14 October 1941) was a Swedish novelist, short story writer, playwright and journalist. His works often deal with melancholy and lovelorn characters, and offer a rich portrayal of contemporary Stoc ...

* 1935: Yrjö Hirn, Jarl Hemmer * 1936: Bertil Malmberg, Eyvind Johnson * 1937: Gustaf Hellström * 1938:

Harry Martinson Harry Martinson (6May 190411February 1978) was a Swedish writer, poet and former sailor. In 1949 he was elected into the Swedish Academy. He was awarded a joint 1974 Nobel Prize in Literature, Nobel Prize in Literature in 1974 together with fellow ...

* 1939: Vilhelm Moberg * 1940:

Elmer Diktonius Elmer Rafael Diktonius (20 January 1896 – 23 September 1961) was a Finland, Finnish poet and composer, who wrote in both Swedish language, Swedish and in Finnish language, Finnish. He was born in Helsinki. In 1922, he established an avant-gar ...

, Bertel Gripenberg, Jarl Hemmer, Arvid Mörne, Emil Zilliacus * 1941: Olle Hedberg * 1942: ''No grand prize'' * 1943: Sven Lidman * 1944: Moa Martinson * 1945: Frans G Bengtsson * 1946: ''No grand prize'' * 1947:

Jan Fridegård Jan Fridegård (born Johan Fridolf Johansson, (14 June 1897 – 8 September 1968), also known as Fride Johansson, was a Swedish writer of the proletarian school. Fridegård grew up among in Uppland. He later held various jobs, including joi ...

* 1948: Sigfrid Lindström * 1949:

Fritiof Nilsson Piraten Fritiof Nilsson Piraten ("the Pirate") (4 December 1895 in Vollsjö – 31 January 1972 in Malmö), born Nils Fritiof Adam Nilsson was a Swedish author and lawyer, from the south-most province Skåne, which plays an important role in many of ...

, Johannes Edfelt * 1950: Nils Ferlin * 1951: Gunnar Ekelöf, Lucien Maury * 1952: Irja Browallius * 1953: Tage Aurell * 1954: Gabriel Jönsson * 1955:

Sivar Arnér Sivar Arnér (13 March 1909 – 13 January 1997) was a Swedish novelist and playwright. Biography Sivar Arnér was born at Arby parish in Kalmar County, Sweden. Arnér was the son of the merchant Ernst Arnér and Hilda Nilsson. His brother ...

* 1956:

Bo Bergman Bo Hjalmar Bergman (6 October 1869 – 17 November 1967) was a Swedish writer, literary critic and member of the Swedish Academy, sitting in Seat 12 from 1925 until his death. His works form the inspiration for works by several major Swedish c ...

, Walter Ljungquist, Stina Aronson * 1957: Karl Vennberg * 1958: Emil Zilliacus * 1959: Anders Österling,

Evert Taube Axel Evert Taube (; 12 March 1890 – 31 January 1976) was a Swedish author, artist, composer and singer. He is widely regarded as one of Sweden's most respected musicians and the foremost troubadour of the Swedish ballad tradition in the 20th c ...

* 1960: Lars Ahlin * 1961: Erik Lindegren, Gustaf Hedenvind Eriksson * 1962: Hans Ruin * 1963: Artur Lundkvist,

Birgitta Trotzig Birgitta Trotzig (11 September 1929 – 14 May 2011) was a Sweden, Swedish writer who was elected to the Swedish Academy in 1993. She was one of Sweden's most celebrated authors, and wrote prose fiction and non-fiction, as well as prose poetry. B ...

* 1964: Rabbe Enckell,

Peder Sjögren Peder Sjögren (1905–1966), born as ''Gösta Sjögren'', was a Swedish writer who fought in the Spanish Civil War and the Continuation War. Many of his books were based on those experiences. Life and works Gösta Tage Filip Sjögren was born i ...

* 1965: Willy Kyrklund * 1966: Lars Gyllensten * 1967: Werner Aspenström, Carl Fries, Per E Rundquist * 1968: Ivan Oljelund, Elsa Grave * 1969: Albert Viksten,

Lars Forssell Lars Hans Carl Abraham Forssell (14 January 192826 July 2007) was a Swedish writer and member of the Swedish Academy. Forssell was a versatile writer who worked within many genres, including poetry, drama and songwriting. He was awarded the Bell ...

* 1970:

Stig Claesson John Stig Claesson (2 June 1928 – 4 January 2008), also known under his signature Slas, was a Swedish writer, visual artist, and illustrator. Claesson was born on 2 June 1928 in Huddinge, south of Stockholm. He attended the Royal Swedish Academy ...

, Majken Johansson * 1971: John Landquist * 1972: Sune Jonsson * 1973: Tito Colliander * 1974:

Sonja Åkesson Sonja Åkesson (19April 19265May 1977) was a Swedish poet, writer, and artist born in Buttle, Gotland. Life Sonja Åkesson first discovered her talent for writing at 28 after moving to Stockholm, after her divorce from Nils Westberg, a carpent ...

* 1975: Barbro Alving, Eva Moberg * 1976: Sten Hagliden, Olov Hartman * 1977: Sara Lidman * 1978: Ingemar Leckius * 1979: Hans Granlid,

Tomas Tranströmer Tomas Gösta Tranströmer (; 15 April 1931 – 26 March 2015) was a Swedish poet, psychologist and translator. His poems captured the long winters in Sweden, the rhythm of the seasons and the palpable, atmospheric beauty of nature. Tranströmer' ...

* 1980:

Lars Norén Lars Göran Ingemar Norén (9 April 1944 – 26 January 2021) was a Swedish playwright, novelist and poet. He was a director at the Royal Dramatic Theatre, artistic director of Riksteatern 1999–2007, and artistic director of Folkteatern in Go ...

* 1981: Rita Tornborg * 1982: ''No grand prize'' * 1983: Bengt-Emil Johnson * 1984: Björn von Rosen * 1985: Göran Palm * 1986: Gunnar E Sandgren * 1987:

Lennart Hellsing Paul Lennart Hellsing (5 June 1919 – 25 November 2015) was a Swedish writer and translator. For his lasting contribution as a children's writer, Hellsing was a finalist in 2010 for the biennial, international Hans Christian Andersen Award. Bio ...

* 1988: Göran Sonnevi * 1989: Katarina Frostenson * 1990:

Tobias Berggren Tobias Berggren (22 January 1940 – 8 June 2020) was a Swedish poet. He made his literary debut in 1969. Among his later collections are ''Namn och grus'' from 1973 and ''Fält och legender'' from 1997. He was awarded the Dobloug Prize The Dobl ...

, Lars Gustafsson * 1991: Erik Beckman * 1992:

Göran Tunström Göran Tunström (14 May 1937 in Borgvik, Grums Municipality – 5 February 2000 in Stockholm) was a Swedish author. He grew up in Sunne, Värmland County. Tunström's style is personal and intimate, and has a clear autobiographical tone. ...

* 1993: Lennart Sjögren * 1994: P O Enquist * 1995: Bo Carpelan * 1996: Lars Andersson * 1997:

Per Wästberg Per Erik Wästberg (born 20 November 1933) is a Swedish writer and a member of the Swedish Academy since 1997. Wästberg was born in Stockholm, son of Erik Wästberg and his wife Greta née Hirsch, and holds a degree in literature from Uppsala ...

* 1998: P C Jersild * 1999: Sigrid Combüchen * 2000: Kjell Espmark * 2001:

* 2002:

Bruno K. Öijer Bruno Keats Öijer (born 26 November 1951 in Linköping, Sweden) is a contemporary Sweden, Swedish poet. Biography Öijer was born in Linköping in 1951. His first collection of poems, ''Sång för anarkismen'' (lit. ''Song for Anarchism'') was ...

* 2003: Ann Jäderlund * 2004:

Torgny Lindgren Gustav Torgny Lindgren (16 June 1938 – 16 March 2017) was a Swedish writer. Lindgren was the son of Andreas Lindgren and Helga Björk. He studied in Umeå to become a teacher and worked as a teacher until the middle of the 1970s. For several ...

* 2005:

Klas Östergren Klas Östergren (born 20 February 1955) is a Swedish novelist, short story writer, screenwriter, and translator. Östergren had a breakthrough with his fourth novel ''Gentlemen'' in 1980. He has been awarded numerous Swedish literary prizes, ...

* 2006: Jacques Werup * 2007:

Tua Forsström Tua Birgitta Forsström (born 2 April 1947) is a Finland-Swedish writer who writes in Swedish. She was awarded the Nordic Council Literature Prize in 1998 for the poetry collection '' Efter att ha tillbringat en natt bland hästar''. Forsströ ...

* 2008: Birgitta Lillpers * 2009: Steve Sem-Sandberg * 2010: Ingvar Björkeson * 2011: Kristina Lugn * 2012: Arne Johnsson * 2013: Aris Fioretos * 2014: Kjell Westö * 2015: Sara Stridsberg * 2016: Carola Hansson * 2017:

Agneta Pleijel Agneta Pleijel (born 1940, in Stockholm Stockholm (; ) is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in Sweden by population, most populous city of Sweden, as well as the List of urban areas in the Nordic countries, largest urban ...

* 2018: Gunnar D. Hansson * 2019: Ola Larsmo * 2020: Jan Stolpe * 2021: Eva Runefelt * 2022: Kerstin Ekman * 2023: Barbro Lindgren

Publications

The annual publication ''Vår Tid'' (''Our Time'') was published 1916–1925 and 1930. ''Svensk Litteraturtidskrift'' () was published from 1938 to 1983. It contained essays, reviews and other texts about Swedish literature. Editors have included Olle Holmberg, Algot Werin and Knut Ahnlund. Samfundet De Nio also published '' Artes'' (1975–2005) together with the

Royal Swedish Academy of Music The Royal Swedish Academy of Music (), founded in 1771 by King Gustav III, is one of the Royal Academies in Sweden Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in ...

and the

Royal Swedish Academy of Arts The Royal Swedish Academy of Fine Arts (), commonly called the Royal Academy, is located in Stockholm, Sweden. An independent organization that promotes the development of painting, sculpture, architecture, and other fine arts, it is one of seve ...

. Since 2003 they publish a literary calendar together with Norstedts Förlag.

References

External links

Official website
{{authority control Literary societies Learned societies of Sweden Swedish literary awards Fiction awards Poetry awards