1971 Nobel Prize in Literature

20px 1971 Nobel Prize in Literature Pablo Neruda Swedish Academy 1901 https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/literature/1971/summary/ 1971 laureate Pablo Neruda 1963.jpg "for a poetry that with the action of an elemental force brings alive a continent's destiny and dreams." 21 October 1971 (announcement) 10 December 1971 (ceremony) Stockholm, Sweden 1970 Nobel Prize in Literature 1972 The 1971 Nobel Prize in Literature was awarded to the Chilean politician and poet Pablo Neruda (1904–1973) "for a poetry that with the action of an elemental force brings alive a continent's destiny and dreams."https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/literature/1971/summary/ Nobel Prize in Literature 1971 nobelprize.org Neruda became the second Chilean Nobel laureate in Literature after Gabriela Mistral in 1945. Laureate Pablo Neruda Pablo Neruda is known for his surrealist poems and historical epics which touches political, human and passionate themes. Among his well known works which are read throughout the world include Veinte poemas de amor y una canción desesperada ("Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair", 1924), which established him as a prominent poet and an interpreter of love and erotica, and Cien Sonetos de Amor ("100 Sonnets of Love", 1959). A diplomat, his official journey in Asia affected him strongly, which is reflected in two volumes of poems titled Residencia en la tierra ("Residence on Earth", 1933 and 1935). Neruda's Communist sympathies reflect in his work Canto General (1939), an epic poem about the whole South American continent.Pablo Neruda – Facts nobelprize.orgPablo Neruda britannica.comPablo Neruda poetryfoundation.org 175px|thumb|left|Neruda's Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair (1924) Deliberations Nominations In 1971, the Swedish Academy received 137 nominations for 91 writers. Neruda received 25 nominations since 1956 and received two nominations which eventually led to him being awarded the 1971 prize. Among the shortlist were Neruda, W. H. Auden, Patrick White (awarded in 1973), André Malraux and Eugenio Montale (awarded in 1975). The most number of nominations were for Jorge Luis Borges and Montale, both receiving 6 nominations.Nomination archive – 1971 André Malraux was the nominee who had been nominated for most years (22 years) up to 1971. 25 of the nominees were nominated first-time, among them Elie Wiesel (awarded the 1986 Nobel Peace Prize), José García Villa, James Baldwin, Arno Schmidt, Georges Schéhadé, William Golding (awarded in 1983) and Richard E. Kim. The oldest nominee was Jacques Maritain (aged 89) while the youngest was Richard E. Kim (aged 39). Peruvian novelist José María Arguedas was nominated posthumously by the professor of Scandinavian languages, Elie Poulenard (1901–1985) from University of Strasbourg. Estonian poet Marie Under was the only female nominee. The authors André Billy, C. D. Broad, Walter Van Tilburg Clark, Daniel de la Vega, Nels F. S. Ferré, Peter Fleming, Claude Gauvreau, Gaito Gazdanov, A. P. Herbert, Philippe Hériat, Raicho Hiratsuka, Anthony Ludovici, Ogden Nash, Allan Nevins, Reinhold Niebuhr, Naoya Shiga, Kenneth Slessor, Juhan Smuul, Aleksandr Tvardovsky, Frank Underhill, Charles Vildrac, Waldo Williams, and Philip Wylie died in 1971 without having been nominated for the prize. The Indian novelist Tarasankar Bandyopadhyay and Dutch writer Simon Vestdijk died months before the announcement. Official list of nominees and their nominators for the prize No. Nominee Country Genre(s) Nominator(s)1Edward Albee (1928–2016)United StatesdramaDieter Schaller (1929–2003)2Jorge Amado (1912–2001)Brazilnovel, short storyLaurent Versini (1932–2021)3Jerzy Andrzejewski (1909–1983)Polish People's Republic Polandnovel, short storyEeva Kilpi (1928–)4Louis Aragon (1897–1982)Francenovel, short story, poetry, essaysJean Gaudon (1926–2019)5José María Arguedas (1911–1969)(posthumous nomination)Perunovel, short story, poetry, essaysElie Poulenard (1901–1985)6Wystan Hugh Auden (1907–1973)United KingdomUnited Statespoetry, essays, screenplayErik Frykman (1905–1980) Barbara Hardy (1924–2016)7Riccardo Bacchelli (1891–1985)Italynovel, drama, essaysGiacomo Devoto (1897–1974) Beniamino Segre (1903–1977)8James Baldwin (1924–1987)United Statesnovel, short story, essays, poetry, dramaJacob Louis Mey (1926–2023)9Tarasankar Bandyopadhyay (1898–1971)Indianovel, short story, drama, essays, autobiography, songwritingKrishna Kripalani (1907–1992)10Mykola Bazhan (1904–1983)Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic Ukrainepoetry, essaysOmeljan Pritsak (1919–2006)11Saul Bellow (1915–2005)CanadaUnited Statesnovel, short story, memoir, essaysJara Ribnikar (1912–2007)12Jorge Luis Borges (1899–1986)Argentinapoetry, essays, translation, short storyManuel Durán (1925–2020) Yakov Malkiel (1914–1998) Andri Peer (1921–1985) Heinrich Bihler (1918–2017) Christopher Ricks (1933–) Raimundo Lida (1908–1979)13Jawad Boulos (1900–1982)Lebanonhistory, essaysCamille Aboussouan (1919–2013)14Heinrich Böll (1917–1985)West Germanynovel, short storyKarl Theodor Hyldgaard-Jensen (1917–1995) Herbert Morgan Waidson (1916–1988) Gustav Korlén (1915–2014)15Michel Butor (1926–2016)Francepoetry, novel, essays, translationKarl Ragnar Gierow (1904–1982)16Elias Canetti (1905–1994)People's Republic of Bulgaria BulgariaUnited Kingdomnovel, drama, memoir, essaysKeith Spalding (1913–2002)17Alejo Carpentier (1904–1980)Cubanovel, short story, essaysHenri Peyre (1901–1988)18Lord David Cecil (1902–1986)United Kingdombiography, history, essaysLeslie Poles Hartley (1895–1972)19Aimé Césaire (1913–2008)Martiniquepoetry, drama, essaysKarl Ragnar Gierow (1904–1982)20André Chamson (1900–1983)Francenovel, essaysGiannēs Koutsocheras (1904–1994) Guy Nairay (1914–1999) Armand Lunel (1892–1977) Pierre Emmanuel (1916–1984) Wladimir d'Ormesson (1888–1973) Marcel Achard (1899–1974)21Fazıl Hüsnü Dağlarca (1914–2008)TurkeypoetryYaşar Nabi Nayır (1908–1981)22Tsendiin Damdinsüren (1908–1986)Mongolian People's Republic Mongoliapoetry, essays, novel, translationWalther Heissig (1913–2005)23Salvador de Madariaga (1886–1978)Francoist Spain Spainessays, history, law, novelKázmér Géza Werner (1900–1985)24Henry de Montherlant (1895–1972)Franceessays, novel, dramaAnders Österling (1884–1981)25Paul Demiéville (1894–1979)SwitzerlandFranceessays, translationMartin Gimm (1930–)26Lawrence Durrell (1912–1990)United Kingdomnovel, short story, poetry, drama, essaysHaydn Trevor Mason (1929–2018)27Friedrich Dürrenmatt (1921–1990)Switzerlanddrama, novel, short story, essaysWerner Betz (1912–1980) Karl Siegfried Guthke (1933–)28Rabbe Enckell (1903–1974)Finlandshort story, poetryCarl-Eric Thors (1920–1986) Eyvind Johnson (1900–1976)29Salvador Espriu (1913–1985)Francoist Spain Spaindrama, novel, poetryManuel Durán (1925–2020) Antoni Comas (1931–1981)30Romain Gary (1914–1980)Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic LithuaniaFrancenovel, essays, literary criticism, screenplayWalther Hinz (1906–1992)31Maurice Genevoix (1890–1980)Francenovel, essaysYves Gandon (1899–1975)32William Golding (1911–1993)United Kingdomnovel, poetry, drama, essaysInna Koskenniemi (1923–1995) Meta Mayne Reid (1905–1991)33Günter Grass (1927–2015)West Germanynovel, drama, poetry, essaysHenry Caraway Hatfield (1912–1995) Erich Ruprecht (1906–1997) Lauri Seppänen (1924–2009) Manfred Windfuhr (1930–)34Graham Greene (1904–1991)United Kingdomnovel, short story, autobiography, essaysMary Renault (1905–1983)35Jorge Guillén (1893–1984)Francoist Spain Spainpoetry, literary criticismManuel Durán (1925–2020) Andri Peer (1921–1985)36Paavo Haavikko (1931–2008)Finlandpoetry, drama, essaysEeva Kilpi (1928–)37William Heinesen (1900–1991)Faroe Islandspoetry, short story, novelSven Møller Kristensen (1909–1991) Dag Strömbäck (1900–1978) Arthur Arnholtz (1901–1973)38Vladimír Holan (1905–1980)Czechoslovakiapoetry, essaysEyvind Johnson (1900–1976)39Eugène Ionesco (1909–1994)Socialist Republic of Romania RomaniaFrancedrama, essaysKarl Ragnar Gierow (1904–1982)40Roman Jakobson (1896–1982)Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic RussiaUnited StatesessaysJean Dubois (1920–2015)41Eyvind Johnson (1900–1976)Swedennovel, short story20px Pär Lagerkvist (1891–1974)42Younghill Kang (1898–1972)North KoreaUnited Statesnovel, memoir, dramaRobert Payne (1911–1983)43Erich Kästner (1899–1974)West Germanypoetry, screenplay, autobiographyKázmér Géza Werner (1900–1985)44Richard Eun Kook Kim (1932–2009)North KoreaUnited Statesnovel, short storyBaek Cheol (1908–1985)45Arthur Koestler (1905–1983)Hungarian People's Republic HungaryUnited Kingdomnovel, autobiography, essaysGeorges Matoré (1908–1998)46Miroslav Krleža (1893–1981)Socialist Republic of Croatia CroatiaSocialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Yugoslaviapoetry, drama, short story, novel, essaysGunnar Jacobsson (1918–2001)47Karl Krolow (1915–1999)West Germanypoetry, essays, translationEmil Ernst Ploss (1925–1972)48Philip Larkin (1922–1985)United Kingdompoetry, novel, essaysJørgen Læssøe (1924–1993)49Siegfried Lenz (1926–2014)West Germanynovel, short story, essays, dramaKarl Ragnar Gierow (1904–1982)50Väinö Linna (1920–1992)FinlandnovelEeva Kilpi (1928–) Eyvind Johnson (1900–1976)51Compton Mackenzie (1883–1972) United Kingdomnovel, short story, drama, poetry, history, biography, essays, literary criticism, memoirMagne Oftedal (1921–1985)52Archibald MacLeish (1892–1982)United Statespoetry, essays, drama, lawWilliam Scovil Anderson (1927–2022)53Hugh MacLennan (1907–1990)Canadanovel, essaysLawrence Lande (1906–1998)54André Malraux (1901–1976) Francenovel, essays, literary criticismErnest Lee Tuveson (1915–1996) Kauko Aatos Ojala (1919–1987) Lloyd James Austin (1915–1994) Henri Peyre (1901–1988) John Henry Raleigh (1920–2001)55Jacques Maritain (1882–1973)FrancephilosophyCharles Dédéyan (1910–2003)56Harry Martinson (1904–1978)Swedenpoetry, novel, drama, essaysArthur Arnholtz (1901–1973)57Miquel Melendres i Rué (1905–1974)Francoist Spain Spainessays, theology, poetry, memoirAntoni Griera (1887–1973)58Arthur Miller (1915–2005)United Statesdrama, screenplay, essaysPetronella O'Flanagan (–)September 2025 Andri Peer (1921–1985)59Vilhelm Moberg (1898–1973)Swedennovel, drama, historyAnders Österling (1884–1981)60Eugenio Montale (1896–1981)Italypoetry, translationCarlo Bo (1911–2001) Marco Scovazzi (1923–1971) Uberto Limentani (1913–1989) Paul Renucci (1915–1976) Lanfranco Caretti (1915–1995) Henri Peyre (1901–1988)61Alberto Moravia (1907–1990)Italynovel, literary criticism, essays, dramaAimo Sakari (1911–2001) Jacques Robichez (1914–1999)62Vladimir Nabokov (1899–1977)Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic RussiaUnited Statesnovel, short story, poetry, drama, translation, literary criticism, memoirJens Pauli Heinesen (1932–2011) Bernard Tervoort (1920–2006)63Mikhail Naimy (1889–1988)Lebanonpoetry, drama, short story, novel, autobiography, literary criticismJoseph Bassila (–)September 2025 Toufic Fahd (1923–2009)64Pablo Neruda (1904–1973)ChilepoetryHenri Peyre (1901–1988) Josephine Miles (1911–1985)65Fritiof Nilsson Piraten (1895–1972)Swedenshort story, novel, essays, lawBertil Ejder (1916–2005)66Ezra Pound (1885–1972)United Statespoetry, essaysHans Galinsky (1909–1991)67Evaristo Ribera Chevremont (1890–1976) Puerto RicopoetryErnesto Juan Fonfrías (1909–1990)68Yannis Ritsos (1909–1990)Kingdom of Greece Greecepoetry, songwritingEyvind Johnson (1900–1976) Per Wästberg (1933–)69Alain Robbe-Grillet (1922–2008)Francenovel, short story, essays, screenplaysHenry Olsson (1896–1985)70Tadeusz Rózewicz (1921–2014)Polish People's Republic Polandpoetry, drama, translationGunnar Jacobsson (1918–2001)71Hans Ruin (1891–1980)FinlandSwedenphilosophyArthur Arnholtz (1901–1973)72Georges Schéhadé (1905–1989)Lebanonpoetry, drama, novelCamille Aboussouan (1919–2013)73Arno Schmidt (1914–1979)West Germanynovel, short story, biography, essaysLars Gyllensten (1921–2006)74Léopold Sédar Senghor (1906–2001)Senegalpoetry, essaysKarl Ragnar Gierow (1904–1982)75Robert Shih [Shi Jieyun] (1926–1983)ChinaessaysÉtienne Lamotte (1903–1983)76Claude Simon (1913–2005)Francenovel, essaysHenry Olsson (1896–1985)77Charles Percy Snow (1905–1980)United Kingdomnovel, essaysSylvère Monod (1921–2006)78Zaharia Stancu (1902–1974)Socialist Republic of Romania Romaniapoetry, novel, philosophy, essaysKarl Ragnar Gierow (1904–1982)79Marie Under (1883–1980)Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic EstoniapoetryAlgirdas Landsbergis (1924–2004)80Simon Vestdijk (1898–1971)Netherlandsnovel, poetry, essays, translationKarl Ragnar Gierow (1904–1982)81José García Villa (1908–1997)PhilippinesUnited Statespoetry, essaysAlejandro Roces (1924–2011) Pacita Habana (–2016) professors from Far Eastern University82Gerard Walschap (1898–1989)Belgiumnovel, drama, essaysRichard Declerck (1899–1986) William Pée (1903–1986) Marcel Coole (1913–2000)83Mika Waltari (1908–1979)Finlandshort story, novel, poetry, drama, essays, screenplayInna Koskenniemi (1923–1995)84Sándor Weöres (1913–1989)Hungarian People's Republic Hungarypoetry, translationÁron Kibédi Varga (1930–2018)85Patrick White (1912–1990) Australianovel, short story, drama, poetry, autobiographyEsko Pennanen (1912–1990) Leslie Rees (1905–2000)86Elie Wiesel (1928–2016)Socialist Republic of Romania RomaniaUnited Statesmemoir, essays, novel, dramaGerd Høst-Heyerdahl (1915–2007)87Thornton Wilder (1897–1975)United Statesdrama, novel, short storyWolfgang Clemen (1909–1990) Julián Marías (1914–2005) William Summers Anderson (1919–2021)88Tennessee Williams (1911–1983)United Statesdrama, novel, screenplay, short story, poetryKázmér Géza Werner (1900–1985)89Henry Williamson (1895–1977)United Kingdomnovel, short storyPetronella O'Flanagan (–)September 202590Angus Wilson (1913–1991)United Kingdomnovel, short story, essaysGerhard Nickel (1928–2015)91Carl Zuckmayer (1896–1977)West Germanydrama, screenplayHerbert Penzl (1910–1995) Alexander Lernet-Holenia (1897–1976) Prize Decision In 1971, the Nobel committee shortlisted Patrick White (awarded in 1973), W.H. Auden, André Malraux and Eugenio Montale (awarded in 1975) along with Pablo Neruda.https://www.svd.se/a/Bjvoyg/sa-fick-pablo-neruda-nobelpriset-trots-kommunistpropaganda Han fick Nobelpris trots "kommunistpropaganda" Schueler, Kaj Svenska Dagbladet 3 January 2022 The academy's archives later revealed in 2022 that Neruda was almost denied the Nobel Prize because of his "communist tendencies" and odes to Stalin.https://www.theguardian.com/books/2022/jan/05/pablo-neruda-nobel-prize-almost-denied-odes-to-stalin#:~:text=Pablo%20Neruda%20may%20have%20won,Chilean%20poet's%20%E2%80%9Ccommunist%20tendencies%E2%80%9D. Nobel winner Pablo Neruda was almost denied prize because of odes to Stalin 5 January 2022 21 May 2022 Alison Flood The Guardian While Anders Österling of the Nobel committee praised Neruda's "poetic natural power and dynamic vitality", he questioned whether the increasingly dominant communist tendency in his poetry is compatible with the purpose of the Nobel prize. In the archives, Österling wrote that "a writer's way of thinking – whether Marxist, syndicalist, anarchist or something else – belongs to his free right. However, Neruda is fully politically involved, including through his hymns to Stalin and other purely propagandistic achievements. On that basis, I have reservations about his candidacy, without, however, wanting to firmly reject it in advance..." Österling had previously spoken out against the candidacy both of Ezra Pound and Samuel Beckett, but was eventually persuaded with Neruda's and Beckett's merits later awarded them the prize, but not Pound. Committee members Lars Gyllensten, Henry Olsson and Artur Lundkvist all recommended Neruda and Patrick White as the main contenders for the prize. Karl Ragnar Gierow listed Neruda as his first proposal and W.H. Auden as his second proposal, noting a "little marked difference" between the order of the proposals. Österling found Auden to be the most recommendable among the candidates, followed by Montale and Patrick White. André Malraux's candidacy was dismissed by the committee as his best work was thought to be too far back in time. Following their meeting on 16 September 1971 the Nobel committee reported that Neruda had the strongest support in the committee, followed by Auden and White with an equal number of votes.https://www.svenskaakademien.se/svenska-akademien/akademiens-arkiv/nerudautstallning/djupdyk-i-1971-ars-nobelarkiv Ur Nobelarkivet 1971 Svenska Akademien Reactions Pablo Neruda had been one of the favourites to be awarded the Nobel prize in Literature in 1971. Other possible winners speculated about in the media included Graham Greene, Henry Miller and Lawrence Durrell.https://www.svenskaakademien.se/svenska-akademien/akademiens-arkiv/digitala-utstallningar/bollutstallning/pressklipp Reaktioner i pressen i samband med 1972 års Nobelpris i litteratur Svenska Akademien Swedish The choice of Neruda was controversial for political reasons. It was questioned if Neruda's far-left communism was compatible with the purpose of the Nobel prize, but it was widely agreed that Neruda deserved the prize for his literary achievements.https://www.svenskaakademien.se/svenska-akademien/akademiens-arkiv/nerudautstallning/kritik Reaktioner och kontroverser Svenska Akademien Swedish Bo Strömstedt, cultural editor of the newspaper Expressen, suggested ironically that Neruda's appointment to the Paris embassy might have been decisive factor for him being awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, describing it as "Pension for Diplomats".https://www.nytimes.com/1971/10/22/archives/neruda-chilean-poetpolitician-wins-nobel-prize-in-literature-nobel.html October 22, 1971 The New York Times 21 May 2021 John L. Hess Neruda, Chilean Poet-Politician, Wins Nobel Prize in Literature In an interview, he pointed out that three laureates in the last decade had been diplomats: Saint-John Perse of France, Giorgos Seferis of Greece and Miguel Ángel Asturias of Guatemala. "I call it a Nobel old-age pension for diplomats," he said. "I think Pablo Neruda is a great poet and a greater artist than Patrick White but like choices that come too late, it's a bit dull. I'm for choosing younger persons who are in the midst of their work." In his home country Chile, the awarding of the Nobel prize to Neruda was widely celebrated. Commenting on the political criticism, Neruda said at a press conference in Stockholm before the award ceremony: "The Nobel prize in literature could have been awarded to other Latin American writers who represent other beliefs. That would not have been wrong by the Swedish Academy but I don't think it would have received the same response and joy among our people as this choice has done.""Poesin måste offras för diplomatposten" Svenska Dagbladet 9 December 1971 Swedish Award ceremony 200px|right|thumb|Nobel laureate Pablo Neruda receiving his medal and diploma (December 10, 1971). At the award ceremony in Stockholm on 10 December 1971, Karl Ragnar Gierow of the Swedish Academy said: The spirit of Nobel’s will tells us what he had in mind [about the prize is to reward work in “an ideal direction”]. The contribution must be one which will benefit mankind. But any work of art worthy of the name does this, so does any literary work with a serious purpose, and so far that matter does that which aims at nothing more serious than raising a healthy laugh. The clause in the will has so much to say that it leaves us without a clear message. One of the few cases, however, where it does take on a definite meaning is this year’s winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature: Pablo Neruda. His work benefits mankind precisely because of its direction. It is my impossible task here to indicate this in a few words. To sum up, Neruda is like catching a condor with a butterfly net. Neruda, in a nutshell, is an unreasonable proposition: the kernel bursts the shell. Nevertheless, one can do something to describe this kernel. What Neruda has achieved in his writing is community with existence. This sounds simple, and is perhaps our most difficult problem. He himself, in one of his New Elemental Odes, has defined it in the formula: harmony with Man and the Earth. The direction in his work, the direction which can so justly be called ideal, is indicated by the path which has brought him to this harmony. (...) we shall follow with high expectations this remarkable poetry, which with the overflowing vitality of an awakening continent resembles one of its rivers, growing all the mightier and more majestic the closer it approaches the estuary and the sea.https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/literature/1971/ceremony-speech/ Award ceremony speech nobelprize.org Nobel lecture Pablo Neruda delivered a Nobel lecture entitled "Towards the Splendid City" on 13 December 1971, in which he raises some great points about the craft of writing poetry and the poet's relation to society. Neruda expressed: "I believe that poetry is an action, ephemeral or solemn, in which there enters as equal partners solitude and solidarity, emotion and action, the nearness to oneself, the nearness to mankind and to the secret manifestations of nature."Nobel lecture nobelprize.org References External links Award Ceremony speech nobelprize.org Nobel diploma nobelprize.org Banquet speech nobelprize.org Nobel lecture nobelprize.org A selection of poems by Pablo Neruda nobelprize.org On Pablo Neruda from Poetry Foundation poetryfoundation.org 1971 Category:Pablo Neruda Nobel