Sara Maria Danius (5 April 1962 – 12 October 2019) was a Swedish literary critic and philosopher, and a scholar of literature and aesthetics.

[5][12] She published on the relationship between literature and society and wrote about Marcel Proust, Gustave Flaubert, and James Joyce.

[4] She was an executive member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Letters since 2010,[13] and in 2013 became professor in literary science at Stockholm University.

[2] The award caused some controversy, particularly among writers arguing that the literary merits of Dylan's work are not equal to those of some of his peers.

[16][17] Two former permanent secretaries, Sture Allén and Horace Engdahl, called Danius a weak leader in her handling of the affair.

[5][22] At the Nobel Banquets she wore specially designed dresses by Pär Engsheden and inspired by three authors she admired: Marcel Proust, Honoré de Balzac and Virginia Woolf.

[23] Her signature garment, a pussy bow blouse,[22][24] became a symbol to wear for those who supported her during the Swedish Academy crisis.