Nobel Prize- This is a nationwide award, which has been awarded every year since 1901. It is awarded to the most outstanding chemists, physicists, writers, medical scientists and peacekeepers. The laureate is awarded a medal with a portrait of A. Nobel, a diploma and a monetary reward.
The Nobel Prize is $1.5 million and is never awarded posthumously. The founder of the award is the famous Swedish entrepreneur, chemist Alfred Nobel, who became famous all over the world for having created dynamite.
On November 27, 1895, Nobel signed a will in which he indicated that the property after his death should be converted into cash and put in a bank. All capital income will be controlled by a special fund, which divides them into 5 parts and pays a cash reward.
The first prize was awarded on December 10, 1901, and in 1969 a new nomination was established for specialists in the field of economics. The Nobel Foundation has decided that no more new nominations will be established. The awarding of the prize is carried out by Nobel committees, each of which has 5 people.
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences elects committees to determine the best among physicists and economists. Royal Karolinska Institute of Medicine and Surgery in Stockholm - committees in the field of medicine. Swedish Academy - committees to determine the best writers. And the winners of the Peace Prize are chosen by the Norwegian parliament, Stroeting.
The Peace Prize has a specific position. It can be obtained not only by a person, but also by an organization, and it is precisely this that can be obtained more than once. Although, there are exceptions to every rule - the Nobel Prize was received 2 times by Sklodowska-Curie (chemistry and physics); J. Bardeen (twice became a laureate in physics); L. Pauling (Peace Prize and Chemistry).
The award ceremony is held on December 10 in Nobel's hometown - in Stockholm (the capital of Sweden) and only the Peace Prize is awarded in Oslo (the capital of Norway). The King of Norway and the entire royal family are always present at the presentation of the Peace Prize. Before the ceremony, the so-called Nobel Week is held - laureate scientists give lectures that are published in a special collection of the Nobel Foundation.
But the most important events of the Nobel Week are the Nobel Concert, which takes place on December 08, and the Nobel Dinner in the Blue Hall of the City Hall. The best and most famous musicians who perform classical music take part in the concert.
The menu for the banquet is compiled back in September and it contains all the dishes that have been on the menu since the first ceremony in 1901. A mandatory condition for the banquet is a strict dress code: ladies are dressed in evening dresses, and men in tailcoats. Usually up to 1500 people attend the Nobel dinner.
The Nobel Prize is the most coveted for many scientists in the world, but some refused to receive money that was earned from human deaths and the use of dynamite.
There is also a parody of the Nobel Prize - the so-called.
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There are many myths associated with the Nobel Prize, which we will try to debunk here. It is generally accepted that Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, established this award to clear his conscience, which was heavily stained with mental turmoil about the number of people killed by the same dynamite.
It is believed that Nobel hated mathematics, and therefore the prize in mathematics was never established. He is believed to have supported the cause of peace, which is why the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded every year. And how was it really?
Where does the money for the Nobel Prize come from?
But in fact, Alfred Nobel, born in 1833, became the 4th son of Immanuel Nobel, who by the time Alfred was born was a well-known industrialist, manufacturer of explosives and gunpowder. Much less known is that Alfred Nobel's father was the inventor of such a banal thing as plywood, which brought him some of the income (IKEA appeared later, but wooden building materials have always been popular in Sweden).
In 1837, Immanuel Nobel moved to St. Petersburg, and in 1842 moved his family there. School education Alfred Nobel received together with the famous Russian chemist Nikolai Zinin, after which Alfred Nobel was sent to study in France and then to America. And the Nobel family business, meanwhile, was producing weapons and ammunition for the Russian army - it was Crimean War. And when Russia lost the Crimean War, the enterprise went bankrupt. The Nobel family returned to Stockholm, the remnants of production came under the control of the second son, Ludwig. Alfred Nobel started working for his older brother. It was for him that he invented safe methods of working with nitroglycerin, the ever-memorable dynamite, and the first versions of smokeless powder.
In 1888, the French press buried Alfred Nobel in absentia, confusing him with his older brother Ludwig. It is believed that it was then that Alfred thought about how he would be remembered after death, which eventually led to the establishment of the Nobel Prize. Alfred Nobel took over the family businesses, and in 1894 acquired the Bofors group of companies, which brought him a fair amount of income.
In those days, Bofors was primarily a steel industry. Under the direction of Alfred Nobel, these enterprises quickly became one of the largest manufacturers of artillery in the world. Bofors anti-aircraft guns were used during the Second World War by all participating parties with constant success. Later, the company was sold, but this already happened after the establishment of the Nobel Prize. But what is curious is that Bofors is still one of the key arms manufacturers in the world.
Alfred Nobel died in 1896 in San Remo (Italy) from complications of a sore throat. A year before his death at the Norwegian-Swedish Club in Paris, Nobel wrote a will in which he ordered 94% of his capital to be used as a fund for the establishment of the prize. At that time, this was 31 million Swedish kronor, which corresponds to about 150 million euros at today's price level.
The heirs could not like such a will. Alfred Nobel's executor was Ragnar Solman, the manager of that same Bofors. Capitalism triumphed over family ties - Solman later became chairman of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce. It took Solman 6 years to create the Nobel Foundation. At the same time, the withdrawal of Alfred Nobel's funds from Azerbaijan, where they were invested by his brothers in the oil business, took a fair amount of time.
First Nobel Prize
In 1901, the first prizes in physics, chemistry, medicine and literature were awarded in Stockholm. Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen won the first Nobel Prize in Physics, Jacob van't Hoff won the first Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work in the field of chemical dynamics, and Emil Adolf von Behring won the first Nobel Prize in Medicine for his discovery of blood sera.
The first Nobel Prize for Literature was awarded to René François Armand Prudhomme, and the first scandal in the history of Nobel Prizes is associated with this prize. Many writers believed that the Literature Prize should have gone to Leo Tolstoy, and Prudhomme's candidacy was received extremely negatively. A group of 42 Swedish writers, including Selma Lagerlöf and August Strindberg, came up with open letter protesting against the decision of the Nobel Committee. But the decision remained unchanged, and Leo Tolstoy never received the Nobel Prize.
With the Nobel Peace Prize, everything is more confusing. Unlike the other four awards of the "Nobel package", Alfred Nobel gave the right to award it not to the Swedish scientific community, but to the Norwegian parliament, more precisely, to its 5 elected members. Thus, the Nobel Peace Prize has only an indirect relation to Stockholm and Sweden, and since 1901 it has been awarded in Oslo.
The first Nobel Peace Prize winners were Jean Henri Dunant, mastermind creation of the International Red Cross and Frederic Passy, founder of the International Peace League.
In 1968, the Swedish Central Bank, in honor of its 300th anniversary, gave the Nobel Committee a significant amount of money to maintain the tradition of awarding prizes. The following year, the Nobel Committee, apparently in gratitude, established the Nobel Prize in Economics. The prize in economics has nothing to do with Alfred Nobel's will, and is officially called the Alfred Nobel Memorial Prize of the Swedish State Bank for Economic Sciences. Despite this, it is sometimes erroneously referred to as the Nobel Prize in Economics.
So, at present, Nobel Prizes are awarded annually in Stockholm in four areas: physics, chemistry, medicine and physiology, and literature. The Swedish Central Bank Prize is not officially a Nobel Prize, but is awarded in the same place, in Stockholm, and the nominees for it are nominated according to similar rules. All 5 prizes are awarded on December 10, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel's death. The ceremony takes place at the Stockholm Concert Hall, and the ensuing banquet, attended by the royal family and others, officials- in one of the halls of the Stockholm City Hall (from year to year the choice of the hall may change, but since 1974 the choice has invariably fallen on the Blue Hall). Until 1930, the banquet was held in the hall of the Stockholm Grand Hotel opposite
Alfred Nobel bequeathed 94% of his fortune to the organization of the prize in five areas of knowledge that were of interest to him. Further, more about what the prize is awarded for, what Alfred Nobel is generally known for, and why there is no Nobel Prize in mathematics.
What is Alfred Nobel famous for?
Many people know Alfred Nobel only as the person whose name the prize is named after, which is awarded annually in several directions. This one was born a famous person in the first half of the nineteenth century, and died four years before its end. Alfred Nobel owns 355 different patents, his most famous invention being dynamite. This Swedish chemist, inventor, engineer and entrepreneur has also done charity work.
Alfred Nobel lived part of his life in Russia, from his youth he was fluent in four languages: English, German, French and Russian. After seven years of living in St. Petersburg, Alfred's father sent him to study in the United States, the Russian chemist Nikolai Zinin advised him to do so. Along the way, the young man visited several European countries, and when he arrived in the United States, he worked for the inventor John Ericsson, who designed the Monitor battleship, the Noverti locomotive and became the owner of several more patents. Nobel filed his first American patent for a gas meter in 1857, but the first patent he received was for determining how to make gunpowder (1863).
Upon returning to Russia, Alfred Nobel took up the affairs of a family firm that fulfilled orders for the Russian army. The Crimean War contributed to the prosperity of the company, but after it the factories could not return to normal production, and the family declared itself bankrupt. Nobel's parents returned to Sweden, and he devoted himself to the study of explosives. In 1863 he invented the detonator, in 1867 - dynamite. In total, he patented 355 inventions.
History of the establishment of the Nobel Prize
In 1888, when Nobel's brother died, newspapers mistakenly announced the death of Albert himself, and not his brother. When he read his own obituary "Dealer of Death" in a French newspaper, he seriously thought about how he would be remembered by mankind. After that, he decided to change his will.
Nobel's will suggested that all movable and immovable property of the compiler should be converted into monetary units, which should be placed in a safe financial institution. All income must belong to a specially created fund, which will distribute it in the form of cash bonuses to those who have brought the greatest benefit over the past year. human society. It was his particular desire that the nationality of the candidate should not be taken into account when awarding prizes.
At first, the paper was received with skepticism. Relatives of Alfred Nobel called themselves offended and demanded that the document be officially recognized as illegal. The Nobel Foundation and the presentation of prizes were organized by the executors of his will - the secretary R. Sulman and the lawyer R. Lilekvist. Later, separate institutions were identified, which were engaged in the awarding of individual prizes. When the Swedish-Norwegian Union was terminated, the Norwegian Committee became responsible for awarding the peace prize, and the organizations of Sweden - for the rest.
Rules for awarding the prize to them. A. Nobel
The statute of the Nobel Foundation determines the rules for awarding the prize. Only individuals can be nominated, not organizations (except for the Peace Prize, which can be awarded to both individuals and official organizations). In one year, one or two discoveries in the same field may be encouraged, but the number of laureates should not exceed three. The rule was officially added in 1968, but in fact it has always been observed.
What is the Nobel Prize for? For outstanding discoveries in five areas: physics, chemistry, medicine and physiology, literature, promoting peace in the world.
Between several candidates, the monetary reward is divided in this way: first in equal parts between the works, then according to the same principle between their authors. For example, if two discoveries are awarded, then the allocated money is first divided by two. The first work has two authors - half is divided once again equally, and the second - one - half is awarded to him.
Also, the award should not be awarded posthumously. But if the laureate was alive at the time of the Nobel Prize, but was taken to another world before the ceremony, then the prize is retained by him. This rule came into effect in 1974. Until that moment, the Nobel Prize had been awarded posthumously twice: Dag Hammarskjöld (by the way, he was the first to refuse the prize during his lifetime, referring to the fact that he held a position in the Nobel Committee, and that he was little known outside of Sweden) and Eric Karlfeldt, the winner of the 1961 Peace Prize of the year. According to the approved rule, the award was retained by William Vickrey. Only once did the Nobel Committee deviate from the rule by awarding Ralph Steiman posthumously, since at the time of the nomination the committee considered him alive.
If the members of the Nobel Committee in the current year did not find worthy candidates, the prize may not be awarded. In this case, the funds are kept until next year.
Areas in which awards are given
Alfred Nobel indicated in his will that the interest on the deposit must be divided by 5 equal parts which are intended for:
- whoever does the most important discovery or an invention in the field of physics;
- one who makes an improvement or an important discovery in the field of chemistry;
- one who makes a discovery in the field of physiology or medicine;
- the one who creates the most outstanding literary work;
- the one who will make the most important contribution to the rallying of nations, the reduction of armies, the abolition of slavery, the promotion of peace conferences.
So Alfred Nobel determined what to give the Nobel Prize for.
But Nobel refused the prize to famous mathematicians. To the question of why there is no Nobel Prize in mathematics, he himself could not answer, since the will (as it should) was made public after his departure to another world. Be that as it may, the inventor and entrepreneur provided for awards in only five areas.
Why there is no Nobel Prize in mathematics has been asked before, but the committee is not going to expand the list of prizes, for which it has been criticized more than once. Its representatives answer that since only five directions were allocated in the will of the founder of the award, it means that they will give awards in five. No more, no less.
Russian Nobel Prize winners
Add to list Russian laureates includes persons who at the time of awarding the award had the citizenship of Russia, the USSR, Russian Empire, regardless of their real nationality at that time. The first Nobel Prize winner from Russia was I. Pavlov for his discoveries in the physiology of the digestive system. I. Mechnikov (for works on immunity), I. Bunin (Nobel Prize in Literature), N. Semenov (chemistry), B. Pasternak (literature), P. Cherenkov, I. Tamm and I. Frank (physics), L. Landau (physics), N. Basov, A. Prokhorov (physics), M. Sholokhov (literature), A. Solzhenitsyn (literature), A. Sakharov (peace prize) and others.
Why there is no Nobel Prize in Mathematics
But still, the Nobel Prize in mathematics is not awarded. Why is there no Nobel Prize in Mathematics? Alfred Nobel noted in his will that he chose all disciplines after a balanced and deliberate analysis. But the train of thought of the inventor and entrepreneur remained unknown.
The most likely version of why mathematicians are not awarded the Nobel Prize is the following fact: Nobel insisted that inventions should give real benefits to all mankind, and mathematics is still exclusively theoretical science. After all, most of the population doesn't care if Fermat's Theorem is proven or not. But if the queen of sciences is applied to physics or chemistry, outstanding scientists are awarded precisely in these disciplines.
Versions related to private life
There is also a version that Alfred Nobel's wife allegedly cheated on him with a mathematician. It was for this that the scientist became angry with the queen of sciences and did not add her to the will. In fact, Nobel was not married at all, and this is just a catchy explanation. At forty-three, he advertised in the newspaper that he was looking for a housewife, translator and secretary all rolled into one. Bertha Kinsky responded to the ad. But soon she left for Austria and got married, and relations with Alfred remained exceptionally friendly.
By the way, it was Bertha Kinski who advised Nobel to include the Peace Prize in his will. Later, the Nobel Foundation presented this prize to her.
Another version is Alfred Nobel's dislike for the mathematician Mittag-Leffler. Then it was he who was one of the most likely contenders for the first prize. The reasons for the hostility are not exactly known. Some sources claim that Mittag-Leffler tried to woo Nobel's fiancee, others that he annoyingly demanded donations to Stolkholm University. It can be assumed that this was also the reason for the exclusion of the queen of sciences from their list.
"Ghosts" of the Nobel Prize in Mathematics
Although the Nobel Prize in mathematics is not awarded, there are several awards that replace it. The equivalents are the Fields Medal, the Abel Prize, and the Bank of Sweden Prize in Economics.
- international annual awards for outstanding Scientific research, revolutionary inventions or major contributions to culture or society., named after the founder (Alfred Bernhard Nobel) , Swedish chemical engineer, inventor and industrialist.
The Nobel Prize is awarded annually for achievements in the following areas of human activity:
- Physics - since 1901, Sweden;
- Chemistry - since 1901, Sweden;
- Medicine and physiology - since 1901, Sweden;
- Literature - since 1901, Sweden;
- Protection of the world - since 1901, Norway.
- Economics - since 1969, Sweden;
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Prizes are awarded according to Nobel's will:
- Organizers: Royal Academy of Sciences in Stockholm (for physics, chemistry, economics), Royal Institute of Medicine and Surgery in Stockholm (for physiology or medicine) and Swedish Academy in Stockholm (for literature); in Norway, the Nobel Committee of the Norwegian Parliament, awards the Nobel Prize for peace-building activities.
- Nobel Prizes are awarded to candidates regardless of their race, nationality, gender and creed for the latest achievements and for more early work if their meaning became apparent later.
- All Nobel Prizes, except for the Peace Prize, can only be awarded to individuals and only once. As an exception, the Nobel Prizes were awarded twice to M. Sklodowska-Curie (in 1903 and 1911), L. Pauling (in 1954 and 1962) and J. Bardin (in 1956 and 1972). As a rule, Nobel Prizes are not awarded posthumously.
- The right to nominate candidates for the prize is used only by private individuals, the circle of which is determined by the regulation on each type of Nobel Prize. Proposals for nominations are sent by February 1 to the respective six committees.
- Discussion of candidates and voting are held in strict secrecy, disagreements on candidates are not recorded in the minutes of the meetings. Only the decision and its brief motivation are published in the press (no motivation is given for peace prizes). Decisions to award awards are not subject to appeal or cancellation.
- Solemn Nobel Prize ceremonies are held in Stockholm and Oslo on December 10, the anniversary of Nobel's death.
- By position Nobel laureate must, within six months of receiving the prize, give a Nobel Memorial Lecture (a popular lecture on the subject of his work), usually in Stockholm or Oslo. The lecture is then published by the Nobel Foundation in a special volume.
Nobel Prize Winners
Nobel Prize winners will be determined by areas of achievement:
- Peace Prize
- Literature Prize
- Physics Prize
- Prize in Physiology or Medicine
- Chemistry Prize
- Economics Prize
Nobel Prize in Literature
The Nobel Prize in Literature is an annual award given by the Nobel Foundation for achievements in the field of literature. The Literature Prize has been awarded since 1901. The first Nobel Prize in Literature was awarded to the French poet and essayist René François Armand Prudhomme "for outstanding literary virtues, especially for high idealism, artistic perfection, and also for the extraordinary combination of sincerity and talent, as evidenced by his books."
From 1901 to the present, 107 prizes have been awarded. During these years, the prize was not awarded and was not awarded only 7 times: in 1914, 1918, 1935 and in the period from 1940 to 1943.
Nobel Prize in Physics
The Nobel Prize in Physics is an annual prize awarded by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. Established by Alfred Nobel in 1895. The first Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded in 1901 to the German physicist Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen "in recognition of the extraordinary merits to science, expressed in the discovery of remarkable rays, subsequently named after him."
Since 1901, 201 Nobel Prizes in physics have been awarded. 200 people became laureates of the prize in physics.
The prize in physics was not awarded only six times - in 1916, 1931, 1934, 1940, 1941 and 1942.
What year was the Nobel Prize established?
After his death, Alfred Nobel bequeathed
« ... The income from investments should belong to the fund, which will distribute them annually in the form of bonuses to those who during the previous year have brought the greatest benefit to mankind ... The indicated percentages must be divided into five equal parts, which are intended: one part - to the one who makes the most important discovery or an invention in the field of physics; the other to the one who makes the most important discovery or improvement in the field of chemistry; the third - to the one who will make the most important discovery in the field of physiology or medicine; the fourth - to the one who will create the most outstanding literary work of an idealistic direction; fifth, to the one who has made the most significant contribution to the rallying of nations, the abolition of slavery or the reduction of the existing armies and the promotion of peaceful congresses ... My particular desire is that the nationality of candidates should not be taken into account in awarding prizes ...»
On April 26, 1897 A. Nobel's will was approved by the Storting of Norway. The executors of Nobel's will, secretary Ragnar Sulman and lawyer Rudolf Lilekvist, organized the Nobel Foundation to take care of the execution of his will and organize the presentation of the prize.
Albert Einstein Nobel Prize 1921
He was nominated several times for the Nobel Prize in Physics, but the members of the Nobel Committee for a long time did not dare to award the prize to the author of such a revolutionary theory as the theory of relativity.
Committee member A. Gullstrand, laureate of the 1911 Physiology or Medicine Prize, believed that the theory of relativity would not stand the test of time.
But in 1922, the Nobel Prize for 1921 was awarded to Einstein for the theory of the photoelectric effect, that is, for the most indisputable and well-tested work in the experiment; however, the text of the decision contained a neutral addition: "and for other work in the field of theoretical physics."
What is a Nobel Prize? You can give a short answer to this question. This is a prestigious award given annually to writers, scientists and public figures. But on what basis are these outstanding personalities awarded? Who makes the final decision on awarding a prize to a particular candidate? Exhaustive answers to these questions are contained in the article. Here are also the names historical figures and writers who were once nominated for the Nobel Prize (Russian and foreign).
Who is Nobel?
Until 1901, no one knew what the Nobel Prize was. Because it simply didn't exist. The award was organized a few years after the death of Alfred Nobel. What preceded this event?
The Swedish engineer, chemist and inventor was born in 1833, the son of an impoverished descendant of the scientist Olof Rudbek. From childhood, Alfred was interested in technology and science. Until the age of sixteen he lived with his parents in Russia. True, the future philanthropist was born in Stockholm. The Nobel father moved to St. Petersburg with his family in 1833.
great inventor
Alfred left his father's house at the age of 16. By that time, the financial situation had improved somewhat, the parents were able to give their inquisitive son a good education. In Europe, Nobel intensively studied chemistry. He was especially interested in explosives - a field of science, research in which led Nobel in 1863 to the invention of dynamite. Four years later, the scientist received a corresponding patent, which later allowed him to become one of the richest people in the world.
Without going into details professional activity famous Swede, let's move on to the final part of his biography. It is she who will bring us closer to obtaining a detailed answer to the question of what the Nobel Prize is.
Death merchant
Scientists tend to be fanatical about their own work. Sometimes they commit the greatest crimes in their research without even noticing it. Nobel produced and widely advertised his product without thinking about the consequences of the development of dynamite production. For this, he was nicknamed the "Blood Millionaire". The restless researcher under the offensive nickname would have been remembered by the descendants, if not for one case.
One beautiful spring morning (although it may have happened in the winter frost or autumn bad weather), the world-famous scientist woke up in his Stockholm apartment and, as usual, fondly remembered the passion of his life - dynamite. In a good mood, Nobel went into the living room to drink a cup of espresso and think about a new plan to improve the technology for producing a mixture based on nitroglycerin. The scientist opened a fresh newspaper... and the thoughts caressing the soul dissipated like yesterday's dream. On the first page, he saw a message about his own death.
The world community would never have known what the Nobel Prize is, if not for the mistake of an absent-minded reporter who, in compiling an obituary, confused the creator of dynamite with his own brother. Nobel was not upset about the death of a relative. He wasn't too upset by his own obituary either. Nobel did not like the definition that the "scribbler" gave him for the sake of a red word - "merchant of death."
Nobel Foundation
In order to change the course of events and not remain in the memory of posterity as a Millionaire on the Blood or the Dynamite King, Alfred Nobel immediately sat down to draw up a will.
So, the document is ready. What does he say? After the death of Nobel, all his property must be sold, the proceeds are placed in an account in a reliable bank. The resulting profit goes to the newly established fund, which, in turn, annually distributes it according to a strict scheme, dividing it into five equal parts. Each of them constitutes a monetary award due to a scientist, writer or fighter for world peace. In his will, Nobel emphasized that the choice of a candidate should in no way be influenced by his nationality or citizenship.
The relatives of the millionaire were furious when they learned about the will, and for a long time they tried to challenge its authenticity. But that's a completely different story.
Candidate Selection Rules
A physicist, chemist, scientist who made a discovery in the field of medicine or physiology, the author of an outstanding literary work can become a Nobel Prize winner.
A public figure who has made a significant contribution to the abolition of slavery and the rallying of nations is entitled to the Nobel Peace Prize. The committee named after the scientist is responsible for it. Other awards are approved by the following organizations:
- Karolinska Institute (medicine or physiology award).
- Swedish Academy (Literature Prize).
- Royal Swedish Academy (prizes in chemistry and physics).
The Prize cannot be awarded posthumously. But if, of course, the applicant died after the announcement of the committee, before he lived to see the presentation ceremony, it is reserved for him. But what if there is no worthy candidate from one area or another? In this case, the award is not awarded, and the funds are kept until the next year.
The amount of the cash prize
The amount is different every year. After all, the profit from transactions, from which premiums are paid, cannot be fixed. So, in 2016, it amounted to $1.1 million. And in 2007 - 1.56 million dollars. In addition, a few years ago, the fund decided to reduce the premium to 20% in order to prevent the organization's capital from decreasing in the future.
It is worth saying that the nomination for the award is an interesting and mysterious process. It is attended not only by members of the organizations listed above, but also by more than three thousand people (usually researchers) working in certain fields, as well as former laureates. The names of the nominees are kept secret for 50 years.
The Nobel Prize is a very solemn event attended by more than a thousand people. The banquet menu and the decoration of the hall in which it is held is a separate topic that cannot be disclosed within the framework of one article. Therefore, let's move on to the most interesting part of our story, namely, the names of the laureates of the most prestigious award. Since the list of them is very extensive, we will name the most famous people and, above all, our compatriots.
Nobel Prize in Literature
No matter how talented a writer may be, he will not be awarded this prize if he does not strive to convey the bright, eternal to the readers. It is received by humanists, idealists, fighters for justice and those who have made a significant contribution to the development of literature. In total, 107 prizes were awarded (by 2017). In 1904, 1917, 1966 and 1974, the members of the committee could not find a worthy candidate.
So, Ivan Bunin in 1933 was awarded the prize for the skill that contributes to the development of classical Russian prose. Boris Pasternak after a quarter of a century - for high achievements in lyric poetry and continuation of the traditions of the epic novel. It is worth saying that the title of the work was not included in the justification for the award. Nevertheless, the author of Doctor Zhivago was subjected to severe oppression in his homeland. Scolding Pasternak's novel was considered good tone. At the same time, only a few of them read it. After all, the book was banned in the USSR for a long time.
Alexander Solzhenitsyn was awarded the prize thanks to his high moral strength and following the traditions of the Russian epic novel. He didn't show up for the ceremony. Not because I was busy, but because they didn't let me in. Belarusian writer Svetlana Aleksievich is the last Russian-speaking Nobel Prize winner. Writer Mikhail Sholokhov was also awarded.
Andrey Sakharov
What Nobel Prize was awarded to the Soviet scientist, one of the creators of the hydrogen bomb? Prizes in physics or maybe chemistry? No. Andrei Sakharov is a laureate of the Peace Prize. He got it for his human rights activities and opposition to the development of nuclear weapons.
As already mentioned, the names of the nominees become known only after 50 years. These once included Leo Tolstoy, Erich Maria Remarque, which is not surprising. Tolstoy is a great humanist. Remarque in his books actively criticized the fascist dictatorship. But some of the names of the Nobel Peace Prize nominees that have become famous are really puzzling. Hitler and Mussolini. The first was nominated in 1939, the second four years earlier. Lenin could also become a nominee for the Peace Prize. However, the First World War intervened.
