1969 Nobel Prize in Literature

20px 1969 Nobel Prize in Literature Samuel Beckett Swedish Academy 1901 https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/literature/1969/summary/ 1969 laureate Samuel Beckett, Pic, 1 (cropped).jpg "for his writing, which - in new forms for the novel and drama - in the destitution of modern man acquires its elevation" 23 October 1969 (announcement) 10 December 1969 (ceremony) Stockholm, Sweden 1968 Nobel Prize in Literature 1970 The 1969 Nobel Prize in Literature was awarded to the Irish author Samuel Beckett (1906–1989) "for his writing, which - in new forms for the novel and drama - in the destitution of modern man acquires its elevation".The Nobel Prize in Literature 1969 nobelprize.org Laureate Samuel Beckett Samuel Beckett produced his most important works – four novels, two dramas, a collection of short stories, essays, and art criticism – during an intensely creative period in the late 1940s. He had settled in France and wrote in both French and English. His experiences during World War II – insecurity, confusion, exile, hunger, deprivation – came to shape his writing. In his most famous work, the drama En attendant Godot (Waiting for Godot, 1952), he examines the most basic foundations of our lives with strikingly dark humor.Samuel Beckett nobelprize.org Among his other famous literary works include Krapp's Last Tape (1958), Happy Days (1961) and The Molloy Trilogy (1955–58). 300px|thumb|left|Poster for drama performance of Beckett's Waiting for Godot. Deliberations Nominations In total, the Swedish Academy received 184 nominations for 103 writers. Samuel Beckett was nominated in 26 occasions since 1957, and received 5 nominations for the 1969 prize with which he was awarded afterwards.Nominations – Samuel Beckett nobelprize.org Nominees included were André Malraux, Simone de Beauvoir, Jorge Luis Borges, Pablo Neruda (awarded in 1971), Heinrich Böll (awarded in 1972), Eugenio Montale (awarded in 1975), Günter Grass (awarded in 1999), Jorge Amado, Louis Aragon, Witold Gombrowicz, Vladimir Nabokov, Alberto Moravia, Robert Graves, W. H. Auden and Graham Greene. 30 of the nominees were nominated first-time, among them Aimé Césaire, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn (awarded in 1970), Arthur Miller, Jacques Maritain, Tawfiq al-Hakim, Edward Albee, Yasushi Inoue and Elias Canetti (awarded in 1981). The nominees who were with the highest number of nominations received – 8 nominations each – were André Malraux, Giuseppe Ungaretti and Tarjei Vesaas. The oldest nominee was Belgian writer Stijn Streuvels (aged 98) and the youngest were Ivan Drach and Hannu Salama (both aged 33 at the time). Five of the nominees were women: Anna Seghers, Nathalie Sarraute, Simone de Beauvoir, Marie Under and Elisaveta Bagryana. The 1951 Nobel laureate Swedish author Pär Lagerkvist nominated his countrymen and colleagues in the Swedish Academy, authors Eyvind Johnson and Harry Martinson who would share the prize in 1974.Nomination archive nobelprize.org The authors Alejandro G. Abadilla, Giovanni Comisso, Ivy Compton-Burnett, Richmal Crompton, Floyd Dell, Harry Emerson Fosdick, Emilio Frugoni, Jack Kerouac, Eugenia Kielland, Norman Lindsay, Erika Mann, Elizaveta Polonskaya, Phraya Anuman Rajadhon, Zoila Ugarte de Landivar, and John Wyndham died in 1969 without having been nominated the prize. The Polish playwright Witold Gombrowicz and Belgian writer Stijn Streuvels died months before the announcement. Official list of nominees and their nominators for the prize No. Nominee Country Genre(s) Nominator(s)1Tawfiq al-Hakim (1898–1987)United Arab Republic Egyptnovel, drama, essays, short story, biographyShawqi Daif (1910–2005)2Edward Albee (1928–2016)United StatesdramaHanspeter Schelp (–)September 20253Jorge Amado (1912–2001)Brazilnovel, short storyLaurent Versini (1932–2021) Jean Subirats (–)September 2025 Joracy Camargo (1898–1973) Antônio Olinto (1919–2009) Vitorino Nemésio (1901–1978)4Jerzy Andrzejewski (1909–1983)Polish People's Republic Polandnovel, short storyKristine Heltberg (1924–2003)5Louis Aragon (1897–1982)Francenovel, short story, poetry, essaysMichel Arrivé (1936–2017) Jean Gaudon (1926–2019) André-Marc Vial (1917–1987) Robert Ricatte (1913–1995)6Wystan Hugh Auden (1907–1973)United KingdomUnited Statespoetry, essays, screenplayFrancis Scarfe (1911–1986) Hermann Fischer (1932–2018) Douglas Grant (1921–1969)7Elisaveta Bagryana (1893–1991)People's Republic of Bulgaria Bulgariapoetry, translationAnna Kamenova (1894–1982)8Agustí Bartra (1908–1982)Francoist Spain Spainpoetry, songwriting, translationManuel Durán (1925–2020)9Samuel Beckett (1906–1989)Irelandnovel, drama, poetryHelmut Kreuzer (1927–2004) Martin Price (1920–2010) Wolfgang Clemen (1909–1990) Jan Kott (1914–2001) Christopher Ricks (1933–)10Jorge Luis Borges (1899–1986)Argentinapoetry, essays, translation, short storyArnold Chapman (1902–1974) Helmut Kreuzer (1927–2004) Manuel Durán (1925–2020) Helen Gardner (1908–1986)11Emil Boyson (1897–1979)Norwaypoetry, novel, translationAsbjørn Aarnes (1923–2013)12Heinrich Böll (1917–1985)West Germanynovel, short storyHans Schwerte (1909–1999) Karl Theodor Hyldgaard-Jensen (1917–1997) Herbert Morgan Waidson (1916–1988)13Michel Butor (1926–2016)Francepoetry, novel, essays, translationLars Gyllensten (1921–2006)14Elias Canetti (1905–1994)People's Republic of Bulgaria BulgariaUnited Kingdomnovel, drama, memoir, essaysKeith Spalding (1913–2002)15Josep Carner (1884–1970)Francoist Spain Spainpoetry, drama, translationManuel Durán (1925–2020)16Jean Cassou (1897–1986)Francenovel, essays, literary criticism, poetry, translationGiannēs Koutsocheras (1904–1994)17Paul Celan (1920–1970)Socialist Republic of Romania RomaniaFrancepoetry, translationErnst Wilhelm Meyer (1892–1969) Dietrich Jöns (1924–2011) Gerhart Baumann (1920–2006) Heinz Politzer (1910–1978)18Aimé Césaire (1913–2008)Martiniquepoetry, drama, essaysUnion of Finnish Writers19André Chamson (1900–1983)Francenovel, essaysYves Gandon (1899–1975) French Centre – PEN International20René Char (1907–1988)FrancepoetryHenri Peyre (1901–1988)21Simone de Beauvoir (1908–1986)Francenovel, drama, memoir, philosophy, essays, short storyHenning Fenger (1921–1985)22Joseph Delteil (1894–1978)Francepoetry, novel, short story, essaysCharles Camproux (1908–1994)23Ivan Drach (1936–2018)Soviet Unionpoetry, literary criticism, dramaOmeljan Pritsak (1919–2006)24Carlos Drummond de Andrade (1902–1987)Brazilpoetry, essaysArtur Lundkvist (1906–1991)25Lawrence Durrell (1912–1990)United Kingdomnovel, short story, poetry, drama, essaysHaydn Trevor Mason (1929–2018)26Friedrich Dürrenmatt (1921–1990)Switzerlanddrama, novel, short story, essaysErnst Wilhelm Meyer (1892–1969) Gustav Siebenmann (1923–2025) Werner Betz (1912–1980)27Rabbe Enckell (1903–1974)Finlandshort story, poetryCarl Fredrik Sandelin (1925–)28José Maria Ferreira de Castro (1898–1978)Estado Novo (Portugal) PortugalnovelJoracy Camargo (1898–1973) Antônio Olinto (1919–2009) Vitorino Nemésio (1901–1978)29Edward Morgan Forster (1879–1970)United Kingdomnovel, short story, drama, essays, biography, literary criticismIan Alexander (1911–1989) Leslie Poles Hartley (1895–1972)30Max Frisch (1911–1991)Switzerlandnovel, dramaJohn Stephenson Spink (1909–1985) Hans Fromm (1919–2008) Andri Peer (1921–1985)31Étienne Gilson (1884–1978)FrancephilosophyPierre Courcelle (1912–1980)32Jean Giono (1895–1970)Francenovel, short story, essays, poetry, dramaEdmond Jarno (1905–1985)33Witold Gombrowicz (1904–1969)Polish People's Republic Polandshort story, novel, dramaJan Kott (1914–2001)34Günter Grass (1927–2015)West Germanynovel, drama, poetry, essaysHans Schwerte (1909–1999) Kauko Aatos Ojala (1919–1987) Hans Fromm (1919–2008) Henry Caraway Hatfield (1912–1995) Manfred Windfuhr (1930–)35Robert Graves (1895–1985)United Kingdomhistory, novel, poetry, literary criticism, essaysBeatrice White (1908–1995) Sigfrid Siwertz (1882–1970)36Graham Greene (1904–1991)United Kingdomnovel, short story, autobiography, essaysYves Le Hir (1919–2005)37Jorge Guillén (1893–1984)Francoist Spain Spainpoetry, literary criticismHans Staub (1931–2022) Jean Bruneau (1921–2001) Manuel Durán (1925–2020) Victor Brombert (1923–) Henri Peyre (1901–1988)38Louis Guilloux (1899–1980)Francenovel, short story, memoirJean-Bertrand Barrère (1914–1985)39Gunnar Gunnarsson (1889–1975)Icelandnovel, short story, poetryJohannes Brøndum-Nielsen (1881–1977) Þóroddur Guðmundsson (1904–1972)40Hồ Hữu Tường (1910–1980)Vietnamessays, short story, translationĐông Hồ (1906–1969)41Vladimír Holan (1905–1980)Czechoslovakiapoetry, essaysThe Czech PEN-Club Artur Lundkvist (1906–1991)42Taha Hussein (1889–1973)United Arab Republic Egyptnovel, short story, poetry, translationSheikh Mustafa Al-Amin (1889–1988) Abdel Hamid Gouda al-Sahhar (1913–1974)43Yasushi Inoue (1907–1991)Japannovel, poetry, short story, essaysErich Ruprecht (1906–1997)44Eugène Ionesco (1909–1994)Socialist Republic of Romania RomaniaFrancedrama, essaysEyvind Johnson (1900–1976)45Jarosław Iwaszkiewicz (1894–1980)Polish People's Republic Polandpoetry, essays, drama, translation, short story, novelJózef Trypućko (1910–1983)46Mohammad-Ali Jamalzadeh (1892–1997)Pahlavi Iran Iranshort story, translationJes Peter Asmussen (1928–2002)47Eyvind Johnson (1900–1976) Swedennovel, short story20px Pär Lagerkvist (1891–1974)48Marcel Jouhandeau (1888–1979)Franceshort story, novelJean Gaulmier (1905–1997)49Pierre Jean Jouve (1887–1976)Francepoetry, novel, literary criticismHenry Bouillier (1924–2014)50Bernhard Karlgren (1889–1978)Swedenhistory, philology, translationWalter Fuchs (1914–1993)51Miroslav Krleža (1893–1981)Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Yugoslaviapoetry, drama, short story, novel, essays Mira Mihelič (1912–1985) Erih Koš (1913–2010) Marijan Matković (1915–1985) Grga Novak (1888–1978)52Karl Krolow (1915–1999)West Germanypoetry, essays, translationEmil Ernst Ploss (1925–1972)53Siegfried Lenz (1926–2014)West Germanynovel, short story, essays, dramaErnst Wilhelm Meyer (1892–1969)54Claude Lévi-Strauss (1908–2008)BelgiumFrancephilosophy, essaysJean Dubois (1920–2015) Gérard Emmanuel Weil (1926–1986)55Väinö Linna (1920–1992)FinlandnovelIiro Ilkka Kajanto (1925–1997)56Robert Lowell (1917–1977)United Statespoetry, translationWilliam Alfred (1922–1999)57Hugh MacLennan (1907–1990)Canadanovel, essaysLawrence Lande (1906–1998)58André Malraux (1901–1976)Francenovel, essays, literary criticismOlov Janse (1892–1985) Émile Benveniste (1902–1976) Georges Matoré (1908–1998) André Lanly (1911–2007) Raymond Weil (1923–1995) Lloyd James Austin (1915–1994) Henry Caraway Hatfield (1912–1995) Henri Peyre (1901–1988)59Jacques Maritain (1882–1973)FrancephilosophyCharles Dédéyan (1910–2003)60Gustave Lucien Martin-Saint-René (1888–1973)Francepoetry, novel, essays, literary criticism, drama, songwriting, short storyJavier del Granado (1913–1996) René Spaeth (1890–1972) Henri Guiter (1909–1994)61Harry Martinson (1904–1978)Swedenpoetry, novel, drama, essaysArthur Arnholtz (1901–1973) Pär Lagerkvist (1891–1974)62László Mécs (1895–1978)Hungarian People's Republic Hungarypoetry, essaysWatson Kirkconnell (1895–1977)63Arthur Miller (1915–2005)United Statesdrama, screenplay, essaysRobert Ernest Spiller (1896–1988)64Vilhelm Moberg (1898–1973)Swedennovel, drama, historyGunnar Tilander (1894–1973)65Eugenio Montale (1896–1981)Italypoetry, translationEgon Huber (1907–1986) Paul Renucci (1915–1976) Frederick Jones (1925–2011) Elie Poulenard (1901–1985) Uberto Limentani (1913–1989)66Alberto Moravia (1907–1990)Italynovel, literary criticism, essays, dramaJacques Robichez (1914–1999)67Vladimir Nabokov (1899–1977)Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic RussiaUnited Statesnovel, short story, poetry, drama, translation, literary criticism, memoirSimon Karlinsky (1924–2009)68Pablo Neruda (1904–1973)ChilepoetryNoël Salomon (1917–1977) Einar Bragi (1921–2005) The Chilean PEN-Club69Germán Pardo García (1902–1991)ColombiaMexicopoetryJames Willis Robb (1918–2010)70José María Pemán (1897–1981)Francoist Spain Spainpoetry, drama, novel, essays, screenplayManuel Halcón (1900–1989) Francisco Sánchez-Castañer (1908–1981)71Robert Pinget (1919–1997)Francenovel, dramaArtur Lundkvist (1906–1991)72Ezra Pound (1885–1972)United Statespoetry, essaysHans Galinsky (1909–1991)73Anthony Powell (1905–2000)United Kingdomnovel, drama, essays, memoirJean Hamard (1920-2012).74Raymond Queneau (1903–1976)Francenovel, poetry, essaysT. van den Heuvel (–)September 202575Jean Rateau-Landeville (1894–1972)FranceessaysPierre Flottes (1895–1994)76Alain Robbe-Grillet (1922–2008)Francenovel, short story, essays, screenplaysHenry Olsson (1896–1985)77Gustave Roud (1897–1976)Switzerlandpoetry, translationHenri Perrochon (1899–1990)78Hans Ruin (1891–1980)FinlandSwedenphilosophyArthur Arnholtz (1901–1973)79Hannu Salama (1936–)Finlandnovel, short story, poetryOsmo Hormia (1926–1983)80Nathalie Sarraute (1900–1999)Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic RussiaFrancenovel, drama, essaysLars Gyllensten (1921–2006)81Anna Seghers (1900–1983)East Germanynovel, short storyHeinz Kamnitzer (1917–2001)82 Jaroslav Seifert (1901–1986) Czechoslovakia poetry, memoir, translationRoman Jacobson (1896–1982)83Léopold Sédar Senghor (1906–2001)Senegalpoetry, essaysHenri Peyre (1901–1988) Jacqueline Duchemin (1910–1988)84Ignazio Silone (1900–1978)Italynovel, short story, essays, dramaArthur Ernest Gordon (1902–1989)85Claude Simon (1913–2005)Francenovel, essaysEyvind Johnson (1900–1976)86Ton Smerdel (1904–1970)Socialist Republic of Croatia Croatiaphilology, poetry, essays, literary criticism, translationChristiaan Alphonsus van den Berk (1919–1979)87Aleksandr Solzjenitsyn (1918–2008)Soviet Unionnovel, short story, essaysDenzel Carr (1900–1983) Yakov Malkiel (1914–1998) The Swedish PEN-Club88Zaharia Stancu (1902–1974)Socialist Republic of Romania Romaniapoetry, novel, philosophy, essaysAlexandru Philippide (1900–1979) Șerban Cioculescu (1902–1988) Andrei Oțetea (1894–1977) George Ivașcu (1911–1988) Marin Preda (1922–1980) Virgil Teodorescu (1909–1987) Aurel Baranga (1913–1979) Ovid Crohmălniceanu (1921–2000) Dumitru Panaitescu-Perpessicius (1891–1971) Demostene Botez (1893–1973) George Macovescu (1913–2002)89Stijn Streuvels (1871–1969)Belgiumnovel, short storyMaurice Gilliams (1900–1982)90John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (1892–1973)United Kingdomnovel, short story, poetry, philology, essays, literary criticismRichard Ernest Wycherley (1909–1985)91Friedebert Tuglas (1886–1971)Soviet Unionshort story, literary criticismUnion of Finnish Writers92Pietro Ubaldi (1886–1972)Italyphilosophy, essaysAcademia Santista de Letras93Marie Under (1883–1980)Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic EstoniapoetryUnion of Finnish Writers94Giuseppe Ungaretti (1888–1970)Italypoetry, essays, literary criticismMaria Bellonci (1902–1986) Egon Huber (1907–1986) Carlo Bo (1911–2001) Marco Scovazzi (1923–1971) Marcello Gigante (1923–2001) Gianfranco Contini (1912–1990) Oreste Macri (1913–1998) Piero Bigongiari (1914–1997) Giacomo Devoto (1897–1974) Lanfranco Caretti (1915–1995) Domenico De Robertis (1921–2011)95Tarjei Vesaas (1897–1970)Norwaypoetry, novelCarl-Eric Thors (1920–1986) Erik Frykman (1905–1980) Karl-Hampus Dahlstedt (1917–1996) Bror Åkerblom (1908–1984) Sigmund Skard (1903–1995) Elie Poulenard (1901–1985) Harald Noreng (1913–2006) Odd Bang-Hansen (1908–1984)96Simon Vestdijk (1898–1971) Netherlandsnovel, poetry, essays, translationAssociation of Literary Scholars, Critics, and Writers Centre Neerlandais – PEN International Harry Martinson (1904–1978)97Gerard Walschap (1898–1989)Belgiumnovel, drama, essaysMarcel Coole (1913–2000) Richard Declerck (1899–1986)98Mika Waltari (1908–1979)Finlandshort story, novel, poetry, drama, essays, screenplayEsko Pennanen (1912–1990)99Arnold Wesker (1932–2016)United Kingdomdrama, novel, essaysClaude Albert Mayer (1918–1998)100Patrick White (1912–1990)Australianovel, short story, drama, poetry, autobiographyLeslie Rees (1905–2000) Stanley Brogden (1913–2008)101Thornton Wilder (1897–1975)United Statesdrama, novel, short storyErnest Lee Tuveson (1915–1996) Robert Halsband (1914–1989)102Edmund Wilson (1895–1972)United Statesessays, literary criticism, short story, dramaRobert Brustein (1927–2023)103Carl Zuckmayer (1896–1977)West Germanydrama, screenplayHerbert Penzl (1910–1995) Karl Hoppe (1892–1973) Prize decision The decision to award Samuel Beckett was controversial within the Swedish Academy. While some members of the Nobel committee was enthusiastic about the idea of awarding Beckett, the Nobel committee chairman Anders Österling had serious doubts that Beckett's writing was in the spirit of Alfred Nobel's will. In 1964 he had argued that he "would almost consider a Nobel prize for him as an absurdity in his own style". Beckett was a leading candidate for the 1968 prize along with André Malraux, W.H. Auden and the Japanese writer Yasunari Kawabata, but was rejected in favour of Kawabata.Alison Flood Samuel Beckett rejected as unsuitable for the Nobel prize in 1968 The Guardian 10 January 2018 The Nobel committee, which in 1969 consisted of Anders Österling, Karl Ragnar Gierow, Lars Gyllensten, Eyvind Johnson, Artur Lundkvist and Henry Olsson,https://www.svenskaakademien.se/nobelkommittens-sammansattning-och-utlatande-1969 Nobelkommitténs sammansättning och utlåtande 1969 Svenska Akademien disagreed on the candidates to the extent that no jointly proposal could be presented to the Swedish Academy. Österling proposed André Malraux, with Graham Greene as his second proposal and Giuseppe Ungaretti (possibly shared with Eugenio Montale) as the third proposal. Johnson also proposed André Malraux, with Claude Simon as his second proposal and Patrick White as the third proposal. Gierow, Gyllensten, Lundkvist and Olsson jointly proposed Samuel Beckett, with Lundkvist adding the proposals Patrick White and Claude Simon. In his report Lundkvist opposed the candidacy of André Malraux, arguing that his major works was too far back in time and had lost some of its relevance. Lundkvist also regretted that the candidacies of the négritude-authors Aimé Césaire and Léopold Sédar Senghor had not been taken in consideration by the Nobel committee and recommended them for future consideration.https://www.svenskaakademien.se/nobelarkivet-1969-0 Nobelarkivet 1969 Svenska Akademien Despite Österling's reservations Beckett was awarded in 1969. The Nobel committee had received five nominations for Beckett that year, but was split as Österling and one other member supported a prize to André Malraux. Other nominations that year included Simone de Beauvoir, Jorge Luis Borges, Pablo Neruda and Graham Greene. While Österling acknowledged the possibility that behind Beckett's "depressing motives" might lie a "secret defence of humanity", he argued that in the eyes of most readers it "remains an artistically staged ghost poetry, characterised by a bottomless contempt for the human condition". Beckett's main supporter on the committee, Karl Ragnar Gierow, on the other hand, argued that Beckett's "black vision" was "not the expression of animosity and nihilism" but "portrays humanity as we have all seen it, at the moment of its most severe violation", and searches for the depths of degradation because even there, "there is the possibility of rehabilitation". Beckett was awarded and in his award ceremony speech Gierow expanded on his arguments, saying Beckett's work goes "to the depths" because "it is only there that pessimistic thought and poetry can work their miracles".Alison Flood 'Ghost poetry': fight over Samuel Beckett's Nobel win revealed in archives The Guardian 17 January 2020 Reactions The awarding of the Nobel prize to Samuel Beckett was much noticed in the Irish press. The daily newspapers The Irish Times and The Irish Press both commented on it in editorials, and The Irish Independent recruited a literature professor from the University of Cork to comment on it.https://www.svenskaakademien.se/svenska-akademien/akademiens-arkiv/beckettutstallning/pressklipp Pressklipp Svenska Akademien In The Irish Times Beckett was described as a literary innovator and a "Master of style in two languages" by writer Alec Reid. In France, the prize decision caused mixed reactions, The Irish Times reported. The Romanian-born playwright Eugene Ionesco said: "I am happy that Beckett has had this prize, because he deserve it." Marcel Archard, a member of the French Academy, said "I am wild with rage, the Swedish Academy has covered itself in ridicule and dishonoured itself through snobbism and the desire to be with-it. Now I understand why Sartre refused the Nobel Prize." Jean Chucenno, another member of the French Academy, said he would "personally have been happy had it been awarded to André Malraux." "However", he added, "the choice of Beckett is a very good choice." At the time of the prize announcement on 23 October 1969 Beckett resorted in small fishing hamlet in Tunisia. Hearing the news that he had been awarded the Nobel prize, the reclusive Beckett booked another hotel room under a false name to avoid publicity. Beckett's French publisher told the Swedish Ministry for foreign affairs that Beckett refused to comment publicly, meet the press or let his whereabouts be known. Beckett however agreed to meet a team from Sveriges Television at a hotel in Nabeul, but under the premise "no questions". The short and uncommented clip showed a silent Beckett filmed at the hotel and some local surroundings.https://www.svenskaakademien.se/svenska-akademien/akademiens-arkiv/digitala-utstallningar/beckettutstallning Beckett, än en gång Svenska Akademien In a letter correspondence with the permanent secretary of the Swedish Academy, Karl Ragnar Gierow, Beckett said that he was thankful for the honour, but that he would not come to Stockholm for the award ceremony, or be able to deliver a Nobel lecture. Beckett also declined an invitation from Gierow for a private lunch with the Academy, but that he hoped to meet Gierow in Paris at a later date.https://www.svenskaakademien.se/svenska-akademien/akademiens-arkiv/beckettustallning/korrespondens-mellan-samuel-beckett-och-svenska-akademien Korrespondens mellan Samuel Beckett och Svenska Akademien nobelprize.org While not rejecting the prize, Beckett did not attend the prize ceremony, nor did he deliver a Nobel lecture.Samuel Beckett - Nobel Lecture nobelprize.org His wife described his reaction to the news that he had been awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature as a "catastrophe". He quickly donated the prize money, much of it to Trinity College Dublin.The Nobel and the ignoble (Part 1) The Irish Times 5 December 1998 Award ceremony At the award ceremony in Stockholm on 10 December 1969, Karl Ragnar Gierow, permanent secretary of the Swedish Academy said: the degradation of humanity is a recurrent theme in Beckett’s writing and to this extent, his philosophy, simply accentuated by elements of the grotesque and of tragic farce, can be described as a negativism that cannot desist from descending to the depths. To the depths it must go because it is only there that pessimistic thought and poetry can work their miracles. (...) [Beckett’s pessimism] houses a love of mankind that grows in understanding as it plumbs further into the depths of abhorrence, a despair that has to reach the utmost bounds of suffering to discover that compassion has no bounds. From that position, in the realms of annihilation, rises the writing of Samuel Beckett like a miserere from all mankind, its muffled minor key sounding liberation to the oppressed, and comfort to those in need.https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/literature/1969/ceremony-speech/ Award ceremony speech nobelprize.org Gierow ended his speech saying that the Swedish Academy regretted that Beckett was not present at the ceremony and that Beckett had chosen his French publisher Jérôme Lindon to accept the award on his behalf. Lindon then received the award from the King of Sweden. References External links Ceremony speech by Karl Ragnar Gierow nobelprize.org 1969 Category:Samuel Beckett Nobel