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Nobel Prize Winners in Literature
Nobel Prize Winners in Literature
Nobel Prize Winners in Literature
By
Esther Lombardi
Updated on September 28, 2019
When Swedish inventor Alfred Nobel died in 1896, he provided for five prizes in his
will, including the Nobel Prize in literature, an honor that goes to writers who
have produced "the most outstanding work in an ideal direction." Nobel's heirs,
however, fought the provisions of the will and it took five years for the first awards to
be presented. With this list, discover the writers who've lived up to Nobel's ideals
from 1901 to the present.
French writer René François Armand "Sully" Prudhomme (1837–1907) won the first
Nobel Prize for Literature in 1901 "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."
Spanish writer José Echegaray y Eizaguirre (1832–1916) received the 1904 Nobel
Prize in Literature "in recognition of the numerous and brilliant compositions which, in
an individual and original manner, have revived the great traditions of the Spanish
drama."
Polish writer Henryk Sienkiewicz (1846–1916) was awarded the 1905 Nobel Prize in
Literature thanks to "his outstanding merits as an epic writer." His best-known and
most widely translated work is the 1896 novel, "Quo Vadis?" (Latin for "Where are
you going?" or "Where are you marching?"), a study of Roman society in the time
of Emperor Nero.
Italian writer Giosuè Carducci (1835–1907) was a scholar, editor, orator, critic, and
patriot who served as a professor of literature at the University of Bologna from 1860
to 1904. He was awarded the 1906 Nobel Prize in Literature "not only in
consideration of his deep learning and critical research, but above all as a tribute to
the creative energy, freshness of style, and lyrical force which characterize his poetic
masterpieces."
British writer Rudyard Kipling (1865–1936) wrote novels, poems, and short stories—
mostly set in India and Burma (Myanmar). He's best remembered for his classic
collection of children's stories, "The Jungle Book" (1894) and the poem, "Gunga Din"
(1890), both of which were later adapted for Hollywood films. Kipling was named the
1907 Nobel Prize Laureate in Literature "in consideration of the power of
observation, originality of imagination, virility of ideas and remarkable talent for
narration which characterize the creations of this world-famous author."
German writer Rudolf Christoph Eucken (1846–1926) received the 1908 Nobel Prize
in Literature "in recognition of his earnest search for truth, his penetrating power of
thought, his wide range of vision, and the warmth and strength in presentation with
which in his numerous works he has vindicated and developed an idealistic
philosophy of life."
Swedish writer Selma Ottilia Lovisa Lagerlöf (1858 –1940) turned away from literary
realism and wrote in a romantic and imaginative manner, vividly evoking the peasant
life and landscape of northern Sweden. Lagerlöf, the first woman to receive the
honor, was awarded the 1909 Nobel Prize in Literature "in appreciation of the lofty
idealism, vivid imagination and spiritual perception that characterize her writings."
German writer Paul Johann Ludwig von Heyse (1830–1914) was a novelist, poet,
and dramatist. He received the 1910 Nobel Prize in Literature "as a tribute to the
consummate artistry, permeated with idealism, which he has demonstrated during
his long productive career as a lyric poet, dramatist, novelist, and writer of world-
renowned short stories."
Belgian writer Count Maurice (Mooris) Polidore Marie Bernhard Maeterlinck (1862–
1949) developed his strongly mystical ideas in a number of prose works, among
them: 1896's "Le Trésor des humbles" ("The Treasure of the Humble"), 1898's "La
Sagesse et la destinée" ("Wisdom and Destiny"), and 1902's "Le Temple
enseveli" ("The Buried Temple"). He received the 1911 Nobel Prize in Literature "in
appreciation of his many-sided literary activities, and especially of his dramatic
works, which are distinguished by a wealth of imagination and by a poetic fancy,
which reveals, sometimes in the guise of a fairy tale, a deep inspiration, while in a
mysterious way they appeal to the readers' own feelings and stimulate their
imaginations."
German writer Gerhart Johann Robert Hauptmann (1862–1946) received the 1912
Nobel Prize in Literature "primarily in recognition of his fruitful, varied and
outstanding production in the realm of dramatic art."
Indian writer Rabindranath Tagore (1861–1941) was awarded the 1913 Nobel Prize
in Literature thanks to "his profoundly sensitive, fresh and beautiful verse, by which,
with consummate skill, he has made his poetic thought, expressed in his own
English words, a part of the literature of the West."
In 1915, Tagore was knighted by King George V of England. Tagore renounced his
knighthood in 1919, however, following the Amritsar massacre of nearly 400 Indian
demonstrators.
(In 1914, no prize was awarded. The prize money was allocated to the special fund
of this prize section)
French writer Romain Rollan's (1866–1944) most famous work is "Jean Christophe,"
a partly autobiographical novel that won him the 1915 Nobel Prize in Literature. He
also received the prize "as a tribute to the lofty idealism of his literary production and
to the sympathy and love of truth with which he has described different types of
human beings."
Swedish writer Carl Gustaf Verner von Heidenstam (1859–1940) received the 1916
Nobel Prize for Literature "in recognition of his significance as the leading
representative of a new era in our literature."
1917: Karl Adolph Gjellerup and Henrik Pontoppidan
Danish writer Karl Gjellerup (1857–1919) received the 1917 Nobel Prize for
Literature "for his varied and rich poetry, which is inspired by lofty ideals."
Danish writer Henrik Pontoppidan (1857–1943) received the 1917 Nobel Prize for
Literature "for his authentic descriptions of present-day life in Denmark."
(In 1918, no prize was awarded. The prize money was allocated to the special fund
of this prize section)
Swiss writer Carl Friedrich Georg Spitteler (1845–1924) received the 1919 Nobel
Prize for Literature "in special appreciation of his epic, 'Olympian Spring.'"
French writer Anatole France (a pseudonym for Jacques Anatole Francois Thibault,
1844–1924) is often thought of as the greatest French writer of the late 19th and
early 20th centuries. Awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1921 "in recognition of
his brilliant literary achievements, characterized as they are by a nobility of style, a
profound human sympathy, grace, and a true Gallic temperament."
Spanish writer Jacinto Benavente (1866–1954) received the 1922 Nobel Prize in
Literature "for the happy manner in which he has continued the illustrious traditions
of the Spanish drama."
Polish writer Wladyslaw Reymont (1868–1925) received the 1924 Nobel Prize for
Literature "for his great national epic, 'The Peasants.'"
Italian writer Grazia Deledda (a pseudonym for Grazia Madesani née Deledda,
1871–1936) received the 1926 Nobel Prize for Literature "for her idealistically
inspired writings which with plastic clarity picture the life on her native island and with
depth and sympathy deal with human problems in general."
French writer Henri Bergson (1859–1941) received the 1927 Nobel Prize for
Literature "in recognition of his rich and vitalizing ideas and the brilliant skill with
which they have been presented."
Norwegian writer Sigrid Undset (1882–1949) received the 1928 Nobel Prize for
Literature "for her powerful descriptions of Northern life during the Middle Ages."
Harry Sinclair Lewis (1885–1951), the first American to win the Nobel Prize for
Literature, took the honors in 1930 "for his vigorous and graphic art of description
and his ability to create, with wit and humor, new types of characters." He is best
remembered for his novels: "Main Street" (1920), "Babbitt" (1922),
"Arrowsmith" (1925), "Mantrap" (1926), "Elmer Gantry" (1927), "The Man Who Knew
Coolidge" (1928), and "Dodsworth" (1929).
Swedish poet Erik Karlfeldt (1864–1931) was posthumously awarded the Nobel
Prize for his poetic body of work.
British writer John Galsworthy (1867–1933) received the 1932 Nobel Prize for
Literature "for his distinguished art of narration which takes its highest form in 'The
Forsyte Saga.'"
Russian writer Ivan Bunin (1870–1953) received the 1933 Nobel Prize in Literature
"for the strict artistry with which he has carried on the classical Russian traditions in
prose writing."
Italian poet, short-story writer, novelist, and dramatist Luigi Pirandello (1867–1936)
received the 1934 Nobel Prize in Literature in honor of "his almost magical power to
turn psychological analysis into good theatre." The tragic farces for which was
famous are thought by many to be precursors to the "Theatre of the Absurd."
(In 1935, no prize was awarded. The prize money was allocated to the special fund
of this prize section)
American writer Eugene (Gladstone) O'Neill (1888–1953) won the 1936 Nobel Prize
for Literature "for the power, honesty and deep-felt emotions of his dramatic works,
which embody an original concept of tragedy." He has also won Pulitzer Prizes for
four of his plays: "Beyond the Horizon" (1920), "Anna Christie" (1922), "Strange
Interlude" (1928), and "Long Day's Journey Into Night" (1957).
French writer Roger du Gard (1881–1958) received the 1937 Nobel Prize for
Literature "for the artistic power and truth with which he has depicted human conflict
as well as some fundamental aspects of contemporary life in his novel-cycle 'Les
Thibault.'"
Prolific American writer Pearl S. Buck (a pseudonym for Pearl Walsh, née
Sydenstricker, also known as Sai Zhenzhu, 1892–1973), best-remembered for her
1931 novel "The Good Earth," the first installment in her "House of Earth" trilogy,
received the 1938 Nobel Prize in Literature "for her rich and truly epic descriptions of
peasant life in China and for her biographical masterpieces."
Finnish writer Frans Sillanpää (1888–1964) received the 1939 Nobel Prize in
Literature "for his deep understanding of his country's peasantry and the exquisite art
with which he has portrayed their way of life and their relationship with Nature."
(From 1940-1943, no prizes were awarded. The prize money was allocated to the
special fund of this prize section)
Chilean writer Gabriela Mistral (a pseudonym for Lucila Godoy Y Alcayaga, 1830–
1914) received the 1945 Nobel Prize in Literature "for her lyric poetry which, inspired
by powerful emotions, has made her name a symbol of the idealistic aspirations of
the entire Latin American world."
Born in Germany, Swiss emigré poet, novelist, and painter Hermann Hesse (1877–
1962) took home the 1946 Nobel Prize in Literature "for his inspired writings which,
while growing in boldness and penetration, exemplify the classical humanitarian
ideals and high qualities of style." His novels "Demian" (1919), "Steppenwolf"
(1922), "Siddhartha" (1927), and (Narcissus and Goldmund" (1930, also published
as "Death and the Lover") are classic studies in the search for truth, self-awareness,
and spirituality.
French writer André Paul Guillaume Gide (1869–1951) received the 1947 Nobel
Prize in Literature "for his comprehensive and artistically significant writings, in which
human problems and conditions have been presented with a fearless love of truth
and keen psychological insight."
1948: T. S. Eliot
British writer Bertrand Arthur William Russell (1872–1970) received the 1950 Nobel
in Literature "in recognition of his varied and significant writings in which he
champions humanitarian ideals and freedom of thought."
Swedish writer Pär Fabian Lagerkvist (1891–1974) received the 1951 Nobel in
Literature "for the artistic vigor and true independence of mind with which he
endeavors in his poetry to find answers to the eternal questions confronting
mankind."
French writer François Mauriac (1885–1970) received the 1952 Nobel in Literature
"for the deep spiritual insight and the artistic intensity with which he has in his novels
penetrated the drama of human life."
Legendary orator, prolific author, talented artist, and statesman who twice served as
British Prime Minister, Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill (1874–1965), received
the 1953 Nobel in Literature "for his mastery of historical and biographical description
as well as for brilliant oratory in defending exalted human values."
Icelandic writer Halldór Kiljan Laxness (1902–1998) received the 1955 Nobel in
Literature "for his vivid epic power which has renewed the great narrative art of
Iceland."
Spanish writer Juan Ramón Jiménez Mantecón (1881–1958) received the 1956
Nobel in Literature "for his lyrical poetry, which in the Spanish language constitutes
an example of high spirit and artistic purity."
Russian poet and novelist Boris Leonidovich Pasternak (1890–1960) received the
1958 Nobel in literature "for his important achievement both in contemporary lyrical
poetry and in the field of the great Russian epic tradition." Russian authorities led
him to decline the award after he'd accepted it. He is best remembered for his epic
1957 novel of love and revolution, "Doctor Zhivago."
French writer Saint-John Perse (a pseudonym for Alexis Léger, 1887–1975) received
the 1960 Nobel in Literature "for the soaring flight and the evocative imagery of his
poetry which in a visionary fashion reflects the conditions of our time."
Yugoslavian writer Ivo Andric (1892–1975) received the 1961 Nobel Prize in
Literature "for the epic force with which he has traced themes and depicted human
destinies drawn from the history of his country."
Israeli writer Shmuel Yosef Agnon (1888–1970) received the 1966 Nobel Prize in
Literature "for his profoundly characteristic narrative art with motifs from the life of the
Jewish people."
Swedish writer Nelly Sachs (1891–1970) received the 1966 Nobel Prize in Literature
"for her outstanding lyrical and dramatic writing, which interprets Israel's destiny with
touching strength."
Guatemalan writer Miguel Asturias (1899–1974) received the 1967 Nobel Prize in
Literature "for his vivid literary achievement, deep-rooted in the national traits and
traditions of Indian peoples of Latin America."
Novelist and short-story writer Yasunari Kawabata (1899–1972) was the first
Japanese writer to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. He won the 1968 honor
"for his narrative mastery, which with great sensibility expresses the essence of the
Japanese mind."
During his career, Irish writer Samuel Beckett (1906–1989) produced work as a
novelist, playwright, short story writer, theatre director, poet, and literary translator.
His 1953 play, "Waiting for Godot" is considered by many to be the purest example
of absurdist/existentialism ever written. Beckett received the 1969 Nobel Prize in
Literature "for his writing, which—in new forms for the novel and drama—in the
destitution of modern man acquires its elevation."
Prolific Chilean writer Pablo Neruda (a pseudonym for Neftali Ricardo Reyes
Basoalto, 1904–1973) wrote and published more than 35,000 pages of poetry,
including perhaps the work that would make him famous, "Veinte poemas de amor y
una cancion desesperada" ("Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair"). He
received the 1971 Nobel Prize in Literature "for a poetry that with the action of an
elemental force brings alive a continent's destiny and dreams."
German writer Heinrich Böll (1917–1985) received the 1972 Nobel Prize in Literature
"for his writing which through its combination of a broad perspective on his time and
a sensitive skill in characterization has contributed to a renewal of German
literature."
Swedish writer Eyvind Johnson (1900–1976) received the 1974 Nobel Prize in
Literature "for a narrative art, far-seeing in lands and ages, in the service of
freedom."
Swedish writer Harry Martinson (1904–1978) received the 1974 Nobel Prize in
Literature "for writings that catch the dewdrop and reflect the cosmos."
Italian writer Eugenio Montale (1896–1981) received the 1975 Nobel Prize in
Literature "for his distinctive poetry which, with great artistic sensitivity, has
interpreted human values under the sign of an outlook on life with no illusions."
American writer Saul Bellow (1915–2005) was born in Canada to Russian Jewish
parents. The family moved to Chicago when he was 9 years old. After completing his
studies at the University of Chicago and Northwestern University, he launched a
career as a writer and teacher. Fluent in Yiddish, Bellow's works explored the often-
uncomfortable ironies of life as a Jew in America. Bellow received the 1976 Nobel
Prize in Literature "for the human understanding and subtle analysis of contemporary
culture that are combined in his work." Some of his best-known works include
National Book Award winners "Herzog" (1964) and "Mr. Sammler’s
Planet" (1970), Pulitzer Prize-winning "Humboldt’s Gift" (1975), and his later
novels, "The Dean’s December" (1982), "More Die of Heartbreak" (1987), "A
Theft" (1989), "The Bellarosa Connection" (1989), and "The Actual" (1997).
Spanish writer Vicente Aleixandre (1898–1984) received the 1977 Nobel Prize in
Literature "for a creative poetic writing which illuminates man's condition in the
cosmos and in present-day society, at the same time representing the great renewal
of the traditions of Spanish poetry between the wars."
Colombian writer Gabriel García Márquez (1928–2014), one of the brightest stars in
the magical realism movement, received the 1982 Nobel Prize in Literature "for his
novels and short stories, in which the fantastic and the realistic are combined in a
richly composed world of imagination, reflecting a continent's life and conflicts." He is
best known for his intricately woven and sweeping novels, "One Hundred Years of
Solitude" (1967) and "Love in the Time of Cholera" (1985).
While British writer William Golding's (1911–1993) best-known work, the deeply
disturbing coming-of-age tale "Lord of the Flies," is considered a classic, due to the
troubling nature of its content, however, it's achieved banned book status on
numerous occasions. Golding received the 1983 Nobel Prize in Literature "for his
novels which, with the perspicuity of realistic narrative art and the diversity and
universality of myth, illuminate the human condition in the world of today."
Czech writer Jaroslav Seifert (1901–1986) received the 1984 Nobel Prize in
Literature "for his poetry which endowed with freshness, sensuality, and rich
inventiveness provides a liberating image of the indomitable spirit and versatility of
man."
Born in Madagascar, French novelist Claude Simon (1913–2005) received the 1985
Nobel Prize in Literature for combining "the poet's and the painter's creativeness with
a deepened awareness of time in the depiction of the human condition."
Nigerian playwright, poet, and essayist Wole Soyinka (1934– ) received the 1986
Nobel Prize in Literature for fashioning "the drama of existence" from the wide
cultural perspective and with poetic overtones."
Egyptian writer Naguib Mahfouz (1911–2006) received the 1988 Nobel Prize in
Literature "who, through works rich in nuance—now clear-sightedly realistic, now
evocatively ambiguous—has formed an Arabian narrative art that applies to all
mankind."
Spanish writer Camilo Cela (1916–2002) received the 1989 Nobel Prize in Literature
"for a rich and intensive prose, which with restrained compassion forms a
challenging vision of man's vulnerability."
South African author and activist Nadine Gordimer (1923–2014) was recognized for
the 1991 Nobel Prize in Literature "through her magnificent epic writing has—in the
words of Alfred Nobel—been of very great benefit to humanity."
Magical realist poet and playwright Sir Derek Walcott (1930–2017) was born on the
island of Saint Lucian in the West Indies. He received the 1992 Nobel Prize in
Literature "for a poetic oeuvre of great luminosity, sustained by a historical vision, the
outcome of a multicultural commitment."
1994: Kenzaburo Oe
Japanese writer Kenzaburo Oe (1935– ) received the 1994 Nobel Prize in Literature
because "with poetic force [he] creates an imagined world, where life and myth
condense to form a disconcerting picture of the human predicament today." His 1996
novel, "Nip the Buds, Shoot the Kids" is considered a must-read for fans of "Lord of
the Flies."
Irish poet/playwright Seamus Heaney (1939–2013) received the 1995 Nobel Prize in
Literature "for works of lyrical beauty and ethical depth, which exalt everyday
miracles and the living past." He is best known for his debut volume of poetry "Death
of a Naturalist" (1966).
Polish writer Maria Wisława Anna Szymborska (1923–2012) received the 1996
Nobel Prize in Literature "for poetry that with ironic precision allows the historical and
biological context to come to light in fragments of human reality."
1997: Dario Fo
Cited as one "who emulates the jesters of the Middle Ages in scourging authority and
upholding the dignity of the downtrodden," Italian playwright, comedian,
singer, theatre director, set designer, songwriter, painter, and left-wing political
campaigner Dario Fo (1926–2016) was 1997's winner of the Nobel Prize in
Literature.
The works of Portuguese writer José de Sousa Saramago (1922–2010) have been
translated into more than 25 languages. He received the 1998 Nobel Prize in
Literature for being recognized as someone "who with parables sustained by
imagination, compassion, and irony continually enables us once again to apprehend
an illusory reality."
German writer Günter Grass (1927–2015), whose "frolicsome black fables portray
the forgotten face of history," took home the 1999 Nobel Prize in Literature. In
addition to novels, Grass was a poet, playwright, illustrator, graphic artist, and
sculptor. His best-known novel "The Tin Drum" (1959) is considered one of the most
important examples of the modern European magical realism movement.
2001–2010
2001: V. S. Naipaul
2003: J. M. Coetzee
South African novelist, essayist, literary critic, linguist, translator, and professor John
Maxwell (1940– ) "who in innumerable guises portrays the surprising involvement of
the outsider," was awarded the 2003 Nobel Prize in Literature.
Noted Austrian playwright, novelist, and feminist Elfriede Jelinek won the 2004 Nobel
Prize in Literature thanks to the "musical flow of voices and counter-voices in novels
and plays that with extraordinary linguistic zeal reveal the absurdity of society's
clichés and their subjugating power."
Famed British playwright Harold Pinter (1930–2008), "who in his plays uncovers the
precipice under everyday prattle and forces entry into oppression's closed rooms,"
was awarded the Nobel Prize in literature in 2005.
British writer Doris Lessing (1919–2013) was born in Persia (now Iran). She was
awarded the 2007 Nobel Prize in Literature for what the Swedish Academy termed
"skepticism, fire and visionary power." She is perhaps most famous for her 1962
novel, "The Golden Notebook," a seminal work of feminist literature.
2008: J. M. G. Le Clézio
Romanian-born German Herta Müller (1953– ) is a novelist, poet, and essayist. She
was awarded to the 2009 Nobel Prize for Literature as a writer, "who, with the
concentration of poetry and the frankness of prose, depicts the landscape of the
dispossessed."
Peruvian writer, Mario Vargas Llosa (1936– ) was awarded the 2010 Nobel Prize in
Literature "for his cartography of structures of power and his trenchant images of the
individual's resistance, revolt, and defeat." He is known for his novel, "The Time of
the Hero" (1966).
Swedish poet Tomas Tranströmer (1931–2015) was awarded the 2011 Nobel Prize
for Literature “because, through his condensed, translucent images, he gives us
fresh access to reality.”
2012: Mo Yan
Chinese novelist and story writer Mo Yan (a pseudonym for Guan Moye, 1955– ),
"who with hallucinatory realism merges folk tales, history, and the contemporary,"
was awarded the 2012 Nobel Prize for Literature.
2013: Alice Munro
Canadian writer Alice Munro (1931– ) "master of the contemporary short story,"
whose themes of non-linear time have been credited with revolutionizing the genre,
was awarded the 2013 Nobel Prize in Literature.
French writer Jean Patrick Modiano (1945– ) was awarded the 2014 Nobel Prize in
literature in 2014 "for the art of memory with which he has evoked the most
ungraspable human destinies and uncovered the life-world of the occupation."
American performer, artist, and pop culture icon Bob Dylan (1941– ), who along
with Woody Guthrie is considered one of the most influential singer/songwriters of
the 20th century. Dylan (born Robert Allen Zimmerman) received the 2016 literature
Nobel “for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song
tradition.” He first achieved fame with classic counter-culture ballads including
"Blowin' in the Wind" (1963) and "The Times They Are a-Changin' " (1964), both
emblematic of the deep-seated anti-war and pro-civil rights beliefs he championed.
British novelist, screenwriter, and short-story writer Kazuo Ishiguro (1954– ) was
born in Nagasaki, Japan. His family moved to the United Kingdom when he was 5
years old. Ishiguro received the 2017 Nobel Literature Prize because, “in novels of
great emotional force, [he] has uncovered the abyss beneath our illusory sense of
connection with the world.”
(In 2018, the awarding of the Literature Prize was postponed due to financial and
sexual assault investigations at the Swedish Academy, which is responsible for
determining the winner[s]. As a result, two prizes are scheduled to be awarded
coinciding with the 2019 award.)
Polish novelist. 2018 Nobel Prize in Literature "for a narrative imagination that with
encyclopedic passion represents the crossing of boundaries as a form of life."
Austrian novelist, playwright, translator, poet, film director, and screenwriter. 2019
Nobel Prize in Literature "for an influential work that with linguistic ingenuity has
explored the periphery and the specificity of human experience."
American novelist, poet, and essayist. 2020Nobel Prize in Literature "for her
unmistakable poetic voice that with austere beauty makes individual existence
universal."
Tanzanian born British novelist, playwright, translator, poet, film director, and
screenwriter. 2021 Nobel Prize in Literature "for his uncompromising and
compassionate penetration of the effects of colonialism and the fate of the refugee in
the gulf between cultures and continents."
French (first Frenchwoman to win this) author. 2022 Nobel Prize in Literature " for
the courage and clinical acuity with which she uncovers the roots, estrangements
and collective restraints of personal memory.”