Nobel Prize

Gao Xingjian’s speech at the Nobel Banquet, December 10, 2000 (in French) Vos Majestés, Vos Altesses royales, Mesdames, Messieurs, L’homme qui est devant vous se souvient encore qu’à l’âge de huit ans, sa mère lui avait demandé de tenir un journal. II s’est ainsi consacré à l’écriture jusqu’à l’âge adulte. II se souvient encore qu’à…

(English translation) Majesties, Royal Highness, Ladies and Gentlemen, The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was signed today exactly 50 years ago. There is no lack of ceremonial commemorations. The attention fades, you know. When serious matters emerge the public interest starts to diminish, the next day even. I hold nothing against these…

Kenzaburo Oe’s speech at the Nobel Banquet, December 10, 1994 I am a strange Japanese who spent his infancy and boyhood under the overwhelming influence of Nils Holgersson. So great was Nils’ influence on me that there was a time I could name Sweden’s beautiful locales better than those of my own country. Nils’ ponderous…

Claude Simon’s speech at the Nobel Banquet, December 10, 1985 (in French) Vos Majestés, Vos Altesses Royales, Mesdames, Messieurs, Je n’ai pas le don de parole, et c’est d’ailleurs là une des raisons pour lesquelles j’écris, quoique encore avec beaucoup de difficultés: mon travail absorbe le plus gros de mon énergie, de sorte que l’âge…

William Golding’s speech at the Nobel Banquet, December 10, 1983 Your Majesties, your Royal Highnesses, your Excellencies, Fellow Laureates, Ladies and Gentlemen, I came to Sweden characterized as a pessimist, though I am an optimist. Now something – perhaps the wonderful warmth of your hospitality…

Czesław Miłosz’ speech at the Nobel Banquet, December 10, 1980 Your Majesty, Your Royal Highnesses, Ladies and Gentlemen, I accept this highest honor on behalf of all men and women for whom I am not so much an individual as a voice, and someone who belongs to them. They should be invoked here, and they…

Odysseus Elytis’ speech at the Nobel Banquet, December 10, 1979 (in French) Sire, Madame, Altesses Royales, Mesdames, Messieurs, Le voyage d’Odysseus, dont il m’a été donné de porter le nom, semble ne devoir jamais s’achever. Et c’est heureux. Comme l’observait un de nos grands poètes contemporains, l’essentiel n’est pas dans le retour à Ithaque, qui…

Isaac Bashevis Singer’s speech at the Nobel Banquet, December 10, 1978 Your Majesties, Your Royal Highnesses, Ladies and Gentlemen, People ask me often, ‘Why do you write in a dying language?’ And I want to explain it in a few words. Firstly, I like to write ghost stories and nothing fits a ghost better than…

As the Laureate was unable to be present at the Nobel Banquet, December 10, 1977, the speech of thanks was read by Mr Jorge Padrón (in Spanish) Majestades, Altezas Reales, Señoras y Señores, En esta reunión tan grata para todos, unos, la mayoría, están aquí son su presencia física; alguna como yo con su asistencia…

English Eugenio Montale’s speech at the Nobel Banquet, December 10, 1975 (Translation) Your Majesties, Your Royal Highnesses, Ladies and Gentlemen, During a fairly long period of my life, for more than 20 years, freedom of press was somewhat reduced in Italy. But poets were not considered dangerous and they were advised to exercise selfcensorship. At…