About Alfred
Nobel
Alfred
Nobel was born on October 21, 1833 in Stockholm Sweden to Immanuel Nobel,
an engineer and inventor, and Andriette Ahlsell, who came from a wealthy family.
In this same year, his father was forced into bankruptcy and moved to St.
Petersburg to find work in a mechanical workshop which pioneered military
explosives, arms manufacturing, and steam engine design. Eventually in 1842,
Immanuel Nobel was able to bring his family to Russia and give his children,
including Alfred, a first-class education in science and literature. The young
Alfred immediately took interest in literature and poetry against his father’s
likeness and was eventually sent abroad to focus on science and chemical engineering.
While studying across the globe, Alfred encountered the highly explosive chemical
compound nitroglycerine and dedicated many years to improving the safety and
practicality of this invention. In 1867, his work with nitroglycerine led
to a patent for dynamite and for the blasting cap (detonator.) These inventions
led to a great demand in the construction and military fields and Alfred weas
eventually exporting to countries all over Europe, Australia, and America.
By this time, Alfred was becoming quite the businessman and entrepreneur,
having factories and laboratories in 20 different countries. Alfred Nobel was known throughout his life for his tremendous ability to combine the worlds of science and business to become one of the wealthiest men of his time. In addition to science, Nobel was greatly interested in world peace affairs, poetry, and literature. At one point, he even considered becoming a writer, which is evident in the Nobel Prizes today.
Alfred Nobel died
in his home in San Remo, Italy from a cerebral hemorrhage on December 11,
1896. Upon his death, people were surprised to see that his will contained
an outline for his wishes to create global prizes for individual achievements
in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature, and Peace. The
worldwide Nobel Foundation was created to handle all aspects of the prestigious
prizes.
The awarding of the Nobel Prize in Literature
Alfred Nobel’s great love for literature and poetry sparked the creation of the esteemed Nobel Prize in Literature. His will described the prizewinner as “the person who shall have produced in the field of literature the most outstanding work in an ideal direction.” The Laureate in this prospective category is determined by the Swedish Academy in Stockholm. Literature, in regards to the prize, is specified to include "not only belles-lettres, but also other writings which, by virtue of their form and style, possess literary value." In addition, "older works" could be considered "if their significance has not become apparent until recently." Candidates for the prize must also be nominated by those entitled to do so before February 1 each year. The ability to nominate a candidate is generally reserved to member of the Swedish Academy and other academies, institutions and societies, and to university teachers of aesthetics, literature and history.
In 1901, the first year of the prize, only 25 nominations were received (Sully Prudhomme eventually won) and the figures steadily increased to the present day area of 200. Once the nominations are received, it is the job of 3-5 people from the Swedish Academy to choose the most distinguished candidate, based on the individual who bestowed “the greatest benefit on mankind” in an “ideal direction.” Due to the vagueness of these definitions in Nobel’s will, the criteria for awarding the prizes has come under great scrutiny throughout the years.
The awarding of the Nobel Prize in Literature
Alfred Nobel’s great love for literature and poetry sparked the creation of the esteemed Nobel Prize in Literature. His will described the prizewinner as “the person who shall have produced in the field of literature the most outstanding work in an ideal direction.” The Laureate in this prospective category is determined by the Swedish Academy in Stockholm. Literature, in regards to the prize, is specified to include "not only belles-lettres, but also other writings which, by virtue of their form and style, possess literary value." In addition, "older works" could be considered "if their significance has not become apparent until recently." Candidates for the prize must also be nominated by those entitled to do so before February 1 each year. The ability to nominate a candidate is generally reserved to member of the Swedish Academy and other academies, institutions and societies, and to university teachers of aesthetics, literature and history.
In 1901, the first year of the prize, only 25 nominations were received (Sully Prudhomme eventually won) and the figures steadily increased to the present day area of 200. Once the nominations are received, it is the job of 3-5 people from the Swedish Academy to choose the most distinguished candidate, based on the individual who bestowed “the greatest benefit on mankind” in an “ideal direction.” Due to the vagueness of these definitions in Nobel’s will, the criteria for awarding the prizes has come under great scrutiny throughout the years.
Copyright © 2002 The
Nobel Foundation