Ben Jackson
Well-known member
The Nobel Prizes between 1930-1933 were awarded to Sinclair Lewis, Erik Karlfeldt (surprising), John Galsworthy, and Ivan Bunin. United States and Russia produced their first Laureates after unsuccessful attempts from Henry James (USA) Tolstoy, Konstantin Balmont and Gorky (Russia). The shortlisted writers for 1930 were: Bunin, Theodre Dreiser, Sinclair Lewis, Paul Valery and Lion Feucthwanger, 1931 was Valery, Karlfeldt, Stefan Zweig, Hesse, Silanpaa, Ramon Menedez Pidal, 1932 was Galsworthy, Paul Ernest, H G Wells, Upton Sinclair and Ivan Bunin, while 1933 was Bunin, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, Benedetto Croce, Merezhkovsky and Correria d'Oliveira. The 1930s criteria was "universal interest, " signaling writers with broad appeal, who are "read and appreciated everywhere."
The ccommittee praised Bunin in 1930 for his "crystal clear style, descriptions chiseled in every detail and hyper sensitive human portraits, with Russian sense of a passing era acquiring universal dimensions," but it seemed that the committee were in search of a Laureate outside Europe, so Bunin was pushed aside. Dresser and Lewis were the main focus, but Dreiser work was felt "too narrow and not possessing a broad vision," like Lewis. In the announcement speech for that year, the committee's special attention was on Babbitt, which played a pivotal role for Lewis's Nobel triumph. Valery, as usual was dismissed for his "obscure poetry, " for both 1930 and 1931, while Feuchtwanger was dismissed for "historical novels which didn't posses genuine literary value, and inability of general public to differentiate between authentic and spurious."
For 1931 prize, which was awarded to Karlfeldt, the last time it was awarded posthumously, Hesse works was dismissed for having "ethical anarchy and lack of plastic visuality and firmness in his characters," Ramon Menedez Pidal's non-fictional works was didmissed "as they weren't considered literature, " the committee's usual ok refusing to honor writers in non-fiction field, Silanpaa's works was still monitored, while Stefan Zweig's pick might have been too controversial, so he was kept aside. Karlfeldt, been on the shortlist in 1919, was awarded despite his sudden death few weeks earlier.
For 1932 prize, H G Wells was praised by Osterling for "having rich and fertile imagination", but was dismissed for his "minor and journalistic works." I think the committee meant minor by referring to his sci-fi novels, while Galsworthy was praised for his "outstanding human depictions," in his most famous work Forstye Saga. Another committee member warned of awarding marketplace as committing a mistake "as a writer who, popular and world famous celebrity whose approachable cycle of novels have been read and appreciated everywhere will have the slightest significance either for himself or for literature," as Paul Ernest "was a writer with a distinctive, independent personality who stands aloof from din of marketplace, " Upton Sinclair might have been dismissed because of the recent American recent Lewis candidature, while Bunin was pushed for the next year. Gals worthy, winning the Nobel after shortlisted in 1921, won the most votes.
1933 prize was tightly contested between Merezehokovsky and his counterpart, the Laureate Bunin. Osterling regretted the decision of the Academy not to award Tolstoy and Gorky, and felt the time had come for Russia. Merezhkovsky was dismissed for his highflown and overrated works, while Bunin was hailed as better artist "a significant writer from the country of Tolstoy," while Benedetto Croce and Radhakrishnan were both dismissed for lacking "lively interest in areas of philosophy." Correira de Oliveria, a Portugese dramatist's work Job, a poetic drama was hailed "as a work of art, " but he was dismissed "because he wasn't the Swedish taste."
Haven't read much from this decade, but one thing is clear: reading few poems of Karlfeldt online, I don't think he's deserving, not over the quality of Valery. Babbitt is only Lewis I have read, but I don't think that novel is better in any way than Dreiser's American Tragedy. Pirandello and O'Neill are very deserving choices. Still have Silanpaa, Bunin to read so I can't judge.
The ccommittee praised Bunin in 1930 for his "crystal clear style, descriptions chiseled in every detail and hyper sensitive human portraits, with Russian sense of a passing era acquiring universal dimensions," but it seemed that the committee were in search of a Laureate outside Europe, so Bunin was pushed aside. Dresser and Lewis were the main focus, but Dreiser work was felt "too narrow and not possessing a broad vision," like Lewis. In the announcement speech for that year, the committee's special attention was on Babbitt, which played a pivotal role for Lewis's Nobel triumph. Valery, as usual was dismissed for his "obscure poetry, " for both 1930 and 1931, while Feuchtwanger was dismissed for "historical novels which didn't posses genuine literary value, and inability of general public to differentiate between authentic and spurious."
For 1931 prize, which was awarded to Karlfeldt, the last time it was awarded posthumously, Hesse works was dismissed for having "ethical anarchy and lack of plastic visuality and firmness in his characters," Ramon Menedez Pidal's non-fictional works was didmissed "as they weren't considered literature, " the committee's usual ok refusing to honor writers in non-fiction field, Silanpaa's works was still monitored, while Stefan Zweig's pick might have been too controversial, so he was kept aside. Karlfeldt, been on the shortlist in 1919, was awarded despite his sudden death few weeks earlier.
For 1932 prize, H G Wells was praised by Osterling for "having rich and fertile imagination", but was dismissed for his "minor and journalistic works." I think the committee meant minor by referring to his sci-fi novels, while Galsworthy was praised for his "outstanding human depictions," in his most famous work Forstye Saga. Another committee member warned of awarding marketplace as committing a mistake "as a writer who, popular and world famous celebrity whose approachable cycle of novels have been read and appreciated everywhere will have the slightest significance either for himself or for literature," as Paul Ernest "was a writer with a distinctive, independent personality who stands aloof from din of marketplace, " Upton Sinclair might have been dismissed because of the recent American recent Lewis candidature, while Bunin was pushed for the next year. Gals worthy, winning the Nobel after shortlisted in 1921, won the most votes.
1933 prize was tightly contested between Merezehokovsky and his counterpart, the Laureate Bunin. Osterling regretted the decision of the Academy not to award Tolstoy and Gorky, and felt the time had come for Russia. Merezhkovsky was dismissed for his highflown and overrated works, while Bunin was hailed as better artist "a significant writer from the country of Tolstoy," while Benedetto Croce and Radhakrishnan were both dismissed for lacking "lively interest in areas of philosophy." Correira de Oliveria, a Portugese dramatist's work Job, a poetic drama was hailed "as a work of art, " but he was dismissed "because he wasn't the Swedish taste."
Haven't read much from this decade, but one thing is clear: reading few poems of Karlfeldt online, I don't think he's deserving, not over the quality of Valery. Babbitt is only Lewis I have read, but I don't think that novel is better in any way than Dreiser's American Tragedy. Pirandello and O'Neill are very deserving choices. Still have Silanpaa, Bunin to read so I can't judge.
