By studying criticism of twenty-first-century literary Nobel Prize decisions, this book identifies and analyzes the reasons why critics engage publicly with a prominent literary prize. Through a detailed examination of professionally published reactions to prize announcements, the study shows that several selections were criticized for not accurately representing various nationalities, genders, and literary genres. The most lengthy and passionate reactions, however, took aim at the laureates’ ways of depicting historical events and cultures. Exiled writers’ representations of their countries of origin were severely criticized, as were writers who had earlier shown support for controversial regimes. The study reveals that the world-famous prize has provided critics with opportunities to reignite and publicize political conflicts. Few of these critics took an aesthetic interest in the awarded works. When commented on by the critics, the literary texts were generally used to support political agendas.