Kjell Espmark (b. 1930) is a poet, novelist, and literary historian. He is also former professor in Comparative Literature at the University of Stockholm. Since 1981 he is a member of the Swedish Academy, and since 1988 a member also of its Nobel Committee (chairman 1988-2004). He has been awarded a considerable number of prizes, including the Bellman Prize (for poetry) and the Schuck Prize (for literary criticism). His latest awards are the Kellgren Prize and the Great Prize of De Nio. Espmark is an officer of L'Ordre de Merite.