Nobel Prize

As the Laureate was unable to be present at the Nobel Banquet at the City Hall in Stockholm, December 10, 1947, the speech was read by Gabriel Puaux, French Ambassador (Translation) «It would no doubt be of little purpose to dwell on my regrets at not being able to be present on this solemn occasion…

As the Laureate was unable to be present at the Nobel Banquet at the City Hall in Stockholm, December 10, 1946, the speech was read by Henry Vallotton, Swiss Minister (Translation) We deeply regret that illness keeps Hermann Hesse in Switzerland. But his thoughts are with us, and his gratitude speaks through this message which…

Johannes V. Jensen’s speech at the Nobel Banquet at the City Hall in Stockholm, December 10, 1945 (Translation) I thank the venerable and the Swedish nation for the honour they have bestowed upon me in awarding me the Nobel Prize in Literature. Present in all our thoughts today is the founder, Alfred Nobel, whose generosity…

Pearl Buck’s speech at the Nobel Banquet at the City Hall in Stockholm, December 10, 1938 It is not possible for me to express all that I feel of appreciation for what has been said and given to me. I accept, for myself, with the conviction of having received far beyond what I have been…

French Roger Martin du Gard’s speech at the Nobel Banquet at the City Hall in Stockholm, December 10, 1937 Monseigneur, Mesdames, Messieurs, La présence de tant de personnalités éminentes, réunies sous le patronage de Son Altesse le Prince Royal, augmente encore l’émotion que j’éprouve de me trouver ici, et d’entendre les paroles élogieuses qui viennent…

English Roger Martin du Gard’s speech at the Nobel Banquet at the City Hall in Stockholm, December 10, 1937 (Translation) The presence of so many illustrious persons assembled under the patronage of His Highness, the Crown Prince, heightens the emotions that I feel at finding myself here and hearing the words of praise that have…

As the Laureate was unable to be present at the Nobel Banquet at the City Hall in Stockholm, December 10, 1936, the speech was read by James E. Brown, Jr., American Chargé d’Affaires It is an extraordinary privilege that has come to me to take before this gathering of eminent persons the place of my…

Ivan Bunin’s speech at the Nobel Banquet at Grand Hôtel, Stockholm, December 10, 1933 (Translation) On November ninth, very far from here in a poor country house in an old Provencal town, I received the telephone call that informed me of the choice of the . I would not be honest if I told you,…

Sigrid Undset’s speech at the Nobel Banquet at Grand Hôtel, Stockholm, December 10, 1928 (Translation) The preceding speakers have far better expressed our gratitude for the Prizes awarded to us than I could have done, and I subscribe to their words. I write more readily than I speak and I am especially reluctant to talk…

William Butler Yeats’s speech at the Nobel Banquet at Grand Hôtel, Stockholm, December 10, 1923 I have been all my working life indebted to the Scandinavian nation. When I was a very young man, I spent several years writing in collaboration with a friend the first interpretation of the philosophy of the English poet Blake.…