About the Nobel Prize in Literature
The Nobel Prize is undeniably one of the most famous prizes in the world of science, however many people forget that it is also a very significant force in literary circles too. Oh yes, many of your favourite authors will have at least been in the running for this annual writing competition prize, and it is often a great place to look if you fancy reading something new.
We love a good book over at Winzum, but unfortunately it seems as though the act of reading is becoming less and less popular as time goes on. Regardless, we thought we would explore exactly what the Nobel Prize in Literature is, especially seeing as it can be a great way to inspire younger people to write.
What is the Nobel Prize in Literature?
The first thing you are probably wondering is why on Earth there are so many different Nobel Prizes around these days (there are currently 5 different Nobel Prizes).
Well, it all stems from a Swedish inventor and businessman called Alfred Nobel who died in 1896, and left behind a will that made sure his money would be used to create a series of prizes for figures that bestow the “greatest benefit on mankind”.
These prizes were for Physics, Chemistry, Peace, Medicine and Literature. We don’t know about you, but we think Alfred Nobel had one of the most constructive wills we have ever seen!
When did the Nobel Prize in Literature start?
The very first Noble Prize in Literature was awarded to the French poet Sully Prudhomme all the way back in 1901, so it didn’t take too long for Mr Alfred Nobel’s dying wishes to be followed through on.
Since 1901 there has been a Noble Prize in Literature pretty much every year, rewarding countless authors, poets and playwrights with a pretty invaluable level of recognition.
The ultimate prize for the Nobel Prize in Literature
You might have seen another of our blog posts called “Why enter writing competitions” [why enter writing competitions], and if you need any more of a reason then just consider the fact that the ultimate prize for winning the Nobel Prize in Literature is a whooping 10 million Swedish Krona, which amounts to around £870,000.
Who said there was no money in writing?
Famous winners of the Nobel Prize in Literature
There have been a number of famous winners of the Nobel Prize in Literature from over the years, so we thought we’d list a few here. Quite recently in 2016 the legendary singer Bob Dylan was awarded the Nobel Prize, something of a surprise within literary circles, but a recipient who definitely deserved it.
Going way back, the influential philosopher and writer Henri Bergson received the prize in 1927, whilst John Steinbeck – author of Of Mice And Men – won the Nobel Prize in 1962.