What is the Nobel Prize? You can give a short answer to this question. This is a prestigious award, awarded annually to writers, scientists and public figures. But by what principle are these outstanding personalities awarded? Who makes the final decision on the award of a candidate? Comprehensive answers to these questions are contained in the article. It also lists the names of historical figures and writers who were once nominated for the Nobel Prize (Russian and foreign).
Who is the Nobel?
Until 1901, no one knew what the Nobel Prize was. Because it simply did not exist. The award ceremony was organized several years after the death of Alfred Nobel. What preceded this event?
The Swedish engineer, chemist and inventor was born in 1833 in the family of the impoverished descendant of the scientist Olof Rudbek. Since childhood, Alfred was interested in technology and science. Until the age of sixteen, he lived with his parents in Russia. True, the future philanthropist in Stockholm was born. Nobel father moved to St. Petersburg with his family in 1833.
Great inventor
Alfred left his father's house at the age of 16. By that time, the financial situation had improved slightly, the parents were able to give their curious son a good education. In Europe, Nobel intensively studied chemistry. He was especially interested in explosives - a field of science, studies in which led Nobel in 1863 to the invention of dynamite. Four years later, the scientist received an appropriate patent, which later allowed him to become one of the richest people in the world.
Without going into details of the professional activity of the famous Swede, we move on to the final part of his biography. It is she who will bring us closer to receiving a detailed answer to the question of what the Nobel Prize is.
Death merchant
Scientists have a fanatical attitude towards their own business. Sometimes in their research they commit the greatest crimes, without even noticing it. Nobel produced and widely advertised his product, without thinking about what the consequences of the development of dynamite production are. For this he was nicknamed "a millionaire in the blood." So the descendants of the researcher would remember the descendants under an insulting nickname, if not for one case.
One beautiful spring morning (although it may have happened in winter frost or autumn inclement weather), a world-famous scientist woke up in his Stockholm apartment and, as usual, fondly recalled the passion of his whole life - dynamite. In a pleasant mood, Nobel went to the living room in order to drink a cup of espresso and to consider a new plan to improve the production technology of the mixture based on nitroglycerin. The scientist opened a fresh newspaper ... and caressing thoughts scattered like yesterday's dream. On the first page, he saw a message about his own death.
The world community would never have known what the Nobel Prize was if it were not for the mistake of an absent-minded reporter who, in compiling an obituary, confused the creator of dynamite with his brother. Nobel was not upset about the death of a relative. He was not so upset by his own obituary. Nobel did not like the definition that the "scribbler" endowed him for the sake of a red word - "death trader."
Nobel Foundation
In order to change the course of events and not remain in the memory of the descendants of Millionaire On the Blood or the Dynamite King, Alfred Nobel immediately sat down to make a will.
So the document is ready.What does he say? After the death of Nobel, all of his property must be sold, the proceeds are deposited in an account with a reliable bank. The resulting profit goes to the newly established fund, which, in turn, distributes it annually according to a strict scheme, dividing it into five equal parts. Each of them constitutes a monetary award due to a scientist, writer or fighter for world peace. In his will, Nobel emphasized that his nationality or citizenship should in no way influence the choice of a candidate.
Relatives of the millionaire were furious upon learning of the will, and for a long time tried to challenge its authenticity. But this is a completely different story.
Candidate selection rules
A Nobel laureate can be a physicist, chemist, scientist who made a discovery in the field of medicine or physiology, the author of an outstanding literary work.
A public figure who has made a significant contribution to the abolition of slavery and the rallying of nations is entitled to the Nobel Peace Prize. The committee named after the scientist bears responsibility for it. Other awards are approved by the following organizations:
- Carolina Institute (award in medicine or physiology).
- Swedish Academy (Literature Award).
- Royal Swedish Academy (chemistry and physics awards).
The prize cannot be awarded posthumously. But if, of course, the applicant died after the announcement of the committee, before living to the ceremony, she remains with him. But what if there is no worthy candidate from a particular field? In this case, the prize is not awarded, and the funds are saved until the next year.
Cash bonus
The amount is different every year. After all, the profit from transactions from which premiums are paid cannot be fixed. So, in 2016, it amounted to 1.1 million dollars. And in 2007 - $ 1.56 million. In addition, a few years ago, the fund decided to reduce the premium to 20% in order to prevent a decrease in the organization’s capital in the future.
It is worth saying that nomination for the award is an interesting and mysterious process. It is attended not only by members of the organizations listed above, but also by more than three thousand people (usually researchers) working in certain fields, as well as former laureates. At the same time, the names of the nominees are kept secret for 50 years.
The presentation of the Nobel Prize is a very solemn event, which is attended by more than a thousand people. The banquet menu and the decoration of the hall in which it is held is a separate topic that cannot be revealed within the framework of one article. Therefore, we will move on to the most interesting part of our story, namely, to the names of the winners of the most prestigious award. Since their list is very extensive, we will name the most famous personalities, and above all, our compatriots.
Nobel Prize in Literature
No matter how talented the writer may be, he will not be awarded this prize if he does not seek to convey to the readers a bright, eternal. It is received by humanists, idealists, fighters for justice and those who have made a significant contribution to the development of literature. In total 107 prizes were awarded (by 2017). In 1904, 1917, 1966 and 1974, members of the committee could not find a worthy candidate.
So, Ivan Bunin in 1933 was awarded the prize for excellence, contributing to the development of classical Russian prose. Boris Pasternak, after a quarter of a century, for high achievements in lyric poetry and the continuation of the traditions of the epic novel. It is worth saying that the title of the work in the justification of the award did not appear. Nevertheless, the author of Doctor Zhivago was severely oppressed in his homeland. Scolding Pasternak’s novel was considered good form. At the same time, read his units. After all, the book was banned for a long time in the USSR.
Alexander Solzhenitsyn was awarded the prize due to his high moral strength and following the traditions of the Russian epic novel. He did not appear at the ceremony. Not because he was busy, but because they didn’t let him in.Belarusian writer Svetlana Aleksievich is the last Russian-speaking Nobel Prize laureate. The writer Mikhail Sholokhov was also awarded.
Andrey Sakharov
What Nobel Prize was awarded to a Soviet scientist, one of the creators of the hydrogen bomb? Prizes in physics or maybe chemistry? Not. Andrei Sakharov is a laureate of the Peace Prize. He received it for his human rights work and for speaking out against the development of nuclear weapons.
Interesting Peace Prize Facts
As already mentioned, the names of the nominees become known only after 50 years. They once included Leo Tolstoy, Erich Maria Remarque, which is not surprising. Tolstoy is a great humanist. Remarque in his books actively criticized the fascist dictatorship. But some of the names of the Nobel Peace Prize nominees that have become famous are truly bewildering. Hitler and Mussolini. The first was nominated in 1939, the second - four years earlier. Lenin could also become a nominee for a peace prize. However, the First World War prevented.