Tolkien and the Nobel Prize

[Earniel]

You know, I never even thought about it, was Tolkien ever nominated for the Nobel Prize for Literature? Reading this BBC article (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-16440150), turns out he was, by C.S. Lewis.

But we'd remember if he had won it, wouldn't we? So here's why not:

The Nobel prize jury said "the result has not in any way measured up to storytelling of the highest quality".

Ouch.

[inked]

Who else has won a Nobel Prize for Literature? Recently and not named in the article?

I got nuthin'.

So, on the whole, based on my personal limited experience, it took 50 years to find out, and the world decided differently than the Nobel Prize committee.

The world was right.:thumb:

[The Gaffer]

One could argue that JRRT's greatest contribution wasn't evident at the time of this nomination.

Viz, the creation of a richly detailed, realistic and immersive fantasy culture.

[inked]

Gaffer, just how long should JRRT have been given for the culture? My recollection

The Hobbit 1936
LOTR 1954-1955

to the nomination in 1961.


Or do you think the posthumous work should be taken into account?

[GrayMouser]

Well, the Hobbit probably wouldn't have struck many people as Nobel-worthy material, and LoTR was so far outside of conventional forms that people didn't know how to deal with it.

And, I must admit, no matter how much I love it, I don't think it's Nobel Prize caliber either(ducks).

[Earniel]

I kind of agree. LoTR changed my life and remains one of the best books I have ever read. But I don't think it ever was much Nobel material. That said, I don't think I ever have read a book of a Nobel prize winner so clearly they must be looking for different things in a book than I.

[The Gaffer]

inked, I don't think it was evident until well into the 70s how great an impact the work would have.

Anyway, I agree that it probably doesn't fall into the category anyway.

[Varnafindë]

Someone said that Tolkien was better at world-building than at story-telling.
I agree. So yes, his greatness is in a different category.

And as the article says, Graham Greene and Karen Blixen never won the Nobel Prize either.

[inked]

So, given the above, should Rowling get a Noble Prize?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/13/jk-rowling-nobel-prize_n_1202942.html

There is, after all, no doubt about the literary impact of the Harry Potter series!
The most read books ever!

The movies are, of course, separate entities.

By the by, see also "Why LOTR is so Addictive" at
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-saler/lord-of-the-rings-addictive-_b_1216841.html

[Logkhya]

It may be not related to the theme the jury like

[hectorberlioz]

Hey, they didn't give it to Robert Frost because he was "too old." Hardly the best of criteria, O Noble Nobel Council! :rolleyes:

[Lotesse]

Graham Greene and Karen Blixen never won the Nobel Prize either.

Karen Blixen so totally deserved a literary Nobel, even Hemingway bowed to her amazing writing/storytelling gift. I LOOOOVE Karen von Blixen a.k.a. Isak Dinesen, and I also love the great Sydney Pollack film based upon her memoir Out Of Africa starring Meryl Streep (LOVE) and Klaus Maria Brandauer and a young, hot Robert Redford. L.O.V.E.