1976 Nobel Prize in Literature
 1976 Nobel Prize in Literature | |
|---|---|
| Saul Bellow | |
_(cropped).jpg) "for the human understanding and subtle analysis of contemporary culture that are combined in his work" | |
| Date |
|
| Location | Stockholm, Sweden |
| Presented by | Swedish Academy |
| First awarded | 1901 |
| Website | Official website |
The 1976 Nobel Prize in Literature was awarded to Canadian-American novelist Saul Bellow (1915–2005) "for the human understanding and subtle analysis of contemporary culture that are combined in his work".[1][2][3] He is the sixth American recipient of the prize. The previous American recipient was John Steinbeck in 1962.[3]
Laureate
[edit]Bellow made his debut with the novel Dangling Man in 1944, but his literary breakthrough came in 1953 with The Adventures of Augie March. Considered one of the innovators of the American novel, he gained wider readership with Herzog (1964), Mr. Sammler's Planet (1970), and Humboldt's Gift (1975). His themes include the disorientation of contemporary society, and the ability of people to overcome their frailty and achieve greatness or awareness. Bellow saw many flaws in modern civilization, and its ability to foster madness, materialism and misleading knowledge. Often his characters are Jewish and have a sense of alienation or otherness.[3][4] He won a Pulitzer Prize in 1976 and the only writer to win the National Book Award for Fiction three times.[5]
Reactions
[edit]Saul Bellow had been a favourite to win the prize in previous years and was a clear favourite in 1976.[3] Before the announcement, a Swedish newspaper predicted that Bellow would be awarded the 1976 literature prize.[3] Malcolm Bradbury of University of East Anglia stated that it would "be hard to fault the choice for 1976, Saul Bellow; difficult to find a contemporary writer who shows the same richness and variety, along with same sharp modernity, of achievement".[6]
References
[edit]- ^ "Notes on People - Saul Bellow". The New York Times. November 19, 1976. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
- ^ "Bellow Wins 1976 Nobel Prize". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. 22 October 1976.
- ^ a b c d e "Award Brings U.S. a Sweep of Honors". New York Times. 22 October 1976.
- ^ Saul Bellow – Facts nobelprize.org
- ^ "National Book Foundation - Explore the Archives". National Book Foundation. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
- ^ Bradbury, Malcolm. "Saul Bellow and the Nobel Prize". Journal of American Studies Vol.11, No.1 (April 1977). Cambridge University Press. p. 3.
External links
[edit]- 1976 Press release nobelprize.org
