1901 Nobel Prize in Literature
The 1901 Nobel Prize in Literature was the first awarded Nobel Prize in Literature. It was awarded to the French poet Sully Prudhomme "in special recognition of his poetic composition, which gives evidence of lofty idealism, artistic perfection and a rare combination of the qualities of both heart and intellect."[1]
Laureate[]
Sully Prudhomme belonged to a school of poets that wanted to write in a classic and formally elegant style. Sully Prudhomme's poetry combined formal perfection with an interest in science and philosophy. According to the Swedish Academy, his elevated poetry fit in Alfred Nobel's formulation about works "in an ideal direction".[2]
Nominations[]
Sully Prudhomme was nominated for the prize by 17 members of the Académie Française, of which Sully Prudhomme himself was a member. In total the Nobel committee received 37 nominations for 25 individuals, including Frédéric Mistral (five nominations) and Henryk Sienkiewicz (three nominations) who were subsequently both awarded the prize, and the only woman nominated, Malwida von Meysenburg.[3] The first name on their list of candidates was Émile Zola, but the campaign from the Académie Française proved to be successful and the Swedish Academy chose to award Sully Prudhomme.[4]
| List of all Nominated | ||
| Name | Profession | Nationality |
|---|---|---|
| Émile Zola | Author |  France
|
| Author | France
| |
| Edmond Rostand | Author | France
|
| Author |  Germany
| |
| Alexander Baumgartner | Literature historian |  Switzerland
|
| Alexandru D. Xenopol | Historian |  Romania
|
| Author | Switzerland
| |
| Author, literature historian | France
| |
| Paul Sabatier | Theologian | France
|
| Sully Prudhomme | Author | France
|
| Frédéric Mistral | Author | France
|
| Gaston Paris | Philologist | France
|
| Literature and art historian |  Finland
| |
| Henryk Sienkiewicz | Author |  Poland
|
| Auguste Sabatier | Theologian | France
|
| Pedagogy professor | Switzerland
| |
| Gaspar Núñez de Arce | Author |  Spain
|
| Charles Borgeaud | Historian | Switzerland
|
| Charles Renouvier | Philosopher | France
|
| School man |  Hungary
| |
| Author |  Italy
| |
| Antonio Fogazzaro | Author | Italy
|
| Author | France
| |
| Author |  Portugal
| |
| Malwida von Meysenbug | Author | Germany
|
Reactions[]
The Swedish Academy's decision to award Sully Prudhomme the first Nobel Prize in Literature was heavily criticised at the time and remains one of the most criticised prize decisions in the history of the Nobel Prize in literature. The choice of Sully Prudhomme was interpreted as a politeness towards the Académie Française, model to the Swedish Academy. Many believed that Lev Tolstoy should have been awarded the first Nobel Prize in literature. The leading representatives of the contemporary Swedish cultural elite including August Strindberg, Selma Lagerlöf, Verner von Heidenstam, Oscar Levertin, Bruno Liljefors, Anders Zorn and Albert Engström protested against the Academy saying they believed that Tolstoy was the most worthy recipient of the prize. An English newspaper said that Sully Prudhomme was a second rate poet who had not achieved anything in many years. Also from France and Germany came critical reactions with opinions that Tolstoy was the superior candidate for the prize.[5]
References[]
- ^ The Nobel Prize in Literature 1901 nobelprize.org
- ^ Sully Prudhomme nobelprize.org
- ^ Nomination archive nobelprize.org
- ^ Helmer Lång Hundra nobelpris i litteratur 1901-2001 Bokförlag Symposion 2001, p. 24 (in Swedish)
- ^ Helmer Lång Hundra nobelpris i litteratur 1901-2001 Bokförlag Symposion 2001, p. 23-24 (in Swedish)
External links[]
- Award ceremony speech by C.D. af Wirsén nobelprize.org
- Nobel Prize in Literature