Nobel Prize

Italian Eugenio Montale’s speech at the Nobel Banquet, December 10, 1975 (in Italian) Maestà, Altezze Reali, Signore, Signori, Durante un periodo abbastanza lungo della mia vita oltre vent’anni la libertà di stampa era piuttosto ridotta in Italia. Ma i poeti non erano considerati pericolosi e ad essi era consigliata l’autocensura. Tutt’al più ai poeti si…

Eyvind Johnson’s speech at the Nobel Banquet at the City Hall in Stockholm, December 10, 1974 (Translation) On behalf of Harry Martinson and myself I will speak as briefly as possible on the situation in which we now find ourselves. A poet or prose narrator usually looks back on what he has achieved against a…

Hebrew Samuel Agnon’s speech at the Nobel Banquet at the City Hall in Stockholm, December 10, 1966

English Samuel Agnon’s speech at the Nobel Banquet at the City Hall in Stockholm, December 10, 1966 (Translation) Our sages of blessed memory have said that we must not enjoy any pleasure in this world without reciting a blessing. If we eat any food, or drink any beverage, we must recite a blessing over them…

English Giorgos Seferis’ speech at the Nobel Banquet at the City Hall in Stockholm, December 10, 1963 (Translation) I feel at this moment that I am a living contradiction. The has decided that my efforts in a language famous through the centuries but not widespread in its present form are worthy of this high distinction.…

French Giorgos Seferis’ speech at the Nobel Banquet at the City Hall in Stockholm, December 10, 1963 Sire, Madame, Altesses Royales, Mesdames, Messieurs. En ce moment je sens que je suis une contradiction. a en effet décidé que mon effort dans une langue fameuse à travers bien des siècles, mais peu répandue dans sa forme…

Frederick Sanger’s speech at the Nobel Banquet, December 10, 1980 When I was here 22 years ago I addressed the students of 1958 as “fellow students” because although I was 40 years old I still felt that I was one of them, and I still feel the same today. I and my colleagues here have…

As the Laureate was unable to be present at the Nobel Banquet at the Swedish Academy in Stockholm, December 10, 1956, the speech was read by Jaime Benitez, Rector of the University of Puerto Rico Juan Ramón Jiménez has given me the following message to convey to you: «I accept with gratitude the undeserved honour…

As the Laureate was unable to be present at the Nobel Banquet at the City Hall in Stockholm, December 10, 1953, the speech was read by Lady Churchill «The Nobel Prize in Literature is an honour for me alike unique and unexpected and I grieve that my duties have not allowed me to receive it…

Thomas Stearns Eliot’s speech at the Nobel Banquet at the City Hall in Stockholm, December 10, 1948 When I began to think of what I should say to you this evening, I wished only to express very simply my appreciation of the high honour which the has thought fit to confer upon me. But to…