Nobel Prize in Literature

The very first Nobel Prize in Literature was awarded in 1901 to the French poet and philosopher Sully Prudhomme, who in his poetry showed the "rare combination of the qualities of both heart and intellect". Over the years, the Nobel Prize in Literature has distinguished the works of authors from many different languages and cultural backgrounds. The prize has been awarded to unknown masters as well as authors acclaimed worldwide.



Value

The Nobel Prize amount for 2007 is set at Swedish kronor (SEK) 10 million per full Nobel Prize.

Conditions

1.
The Swedish Academy is responsible for the selection of the Nobel Laureates in Literature, and has 18 members.
2.
The Nobel Committee for Literature is the working body that evaluates the nominations and presents its recommendations to the Swedish Academy, and comprises four to five members.
3.
The candidates eligible for the Literature Prize are those nominated by qualified persons who have received an invitation from the Nobel Committee to submit names for consideration.
4.
Other persons who are qualified to nominate but have not received invitations may also submit nominations. No one can nominate himself or herself.

Winners

2007
Doris Lessing - United Kingdom

2006
Orhan Pamuk - Turkey

2005
Harold Pinter - United Kingdom

2004
Elfriede Jelinek - Austria

2003
John Maxwell Coetzee - South Africa

2002
Imre Kertész - Hungary

2001
V S Naipaul - Great Britain

2000
Gao Xingjian - China

Address

The Swedish Academy
Box 5232
Sturegata 14 S-10245
Stockholm, Sweden

URL

http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/literature/