See all Nobel Laureates in Literature and why they were awarded the Nobel Prize.
All Nobel Laureates in LiteratureAwards: 109 Prizes to 113 Laureates
Awarded women: 14
Shared prizes: 2
"The said interest shall be divided into five equal parts, which shall be apportioned as follows: /- - -/ one part to the person who shall have produced in the field of literature the most outstanding work in an ideal direction ..."
(Excerpt from the will of Alfred Nobel)
Alfred Nobel had broad cultural interests. During his early youth, he developed his literary interests which lasted throughout his life. His library consisted of a rich and broad selection of literature in different languages. During the last years of his life, he tried his hand as an author and began writing fiction. Literature was the fourth prize area Nobel mentioned in his will.
The Nobel Prize in Literature is awarded by the Swedish Academy, Stockholm, Sweden.
The Nobel Prize in Literature for 2016 was awarded to Bob Dylan.
Bio-bibliographical notesSara Danius, Permanent Secretary of the Swedish Academy, about the 2016 Nobel Prize in literature to Bob Dylan.
Watch the interviewBob Dylan's speech at the Nobel Banquet was delivered by the United States Ambassador to Sweden Azita Raji.
Read Bob Dylan's speechHav you read anything by Bob Dylan or by another author awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature?
Tell us about your favourite book!Peter Englund, former Permanent Secretary of the Swedish Academy, answers frequently asked questions about the Nobel Prize in Literature.
Read Peter Englund's answersNobel Prizes in Literature have been awarded 1901-2016.
women have been awarded the Literature Prize so far.
Literature Prizes have been divided between two persons.
years was the age of the youngest Literature Laureate ever, Rudyard Kipling, best known for The Jungle Book.
years was the age of the oldest Literature Laureate ever, Doris Lessing, when she was awarded the Prize in 2007.
is the average age of the Nobel Laureates in Literature the year they were awarded the prize.
All facts and figures on the Nobel Prize in Literature
Alfred Nobel's prescriptions for the Literature Prize were quite vague. In fact, the history of the Literature Prize appears as a series of attempts to interpret an imprecisely worded will.
More about Alfred Nobel's Will and the Literature PrizeThe Nobel Prize in Literature for 2015 was awarded to the Belarusian author Svetlana Alexievich.
Press release
Bio-biographical information
Interview with Svetlana Alexievich, awarded the 2015 Nobel Prize in Literature, while the taxi waited outside to take her to the press conference.
Transcript of the interviewRead Svetlana Alexievich's Nobel Lecture 'On the Battle Lost'.
Nobel Lecture by Svetlana AlexievichNot familiar with Svetlana Alexievich's work? Here, you can read an excerpt from her book Voices from Chernobyl.
Read the excerptThe Nobel Prize in Literature 2014 was awarded to Patrick Modiano.
Biobibliographical notesMemory, identity and time are central themes for Patrick Modiano. Read, or listen to, an excerpt from his book Dora Bruder.
In the Nobel Diplomas, the artists try to summarize something of the atmosphere and character of each author's works.
Have a closer look at Patrick Modiano's diploma
Patrick Modiano writes in French. Most common languages for the 111 Literature Laureates:
Have you read anything by William Golding or by another author awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature?
Tell us about your favorite book!Discover our visitors' thoughts about Lord of the Flies and many other books.
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