"as a tribute to the consummate artistry, permeated with idealism, which he has demonstrated during his long productive career as a lyric poet, dramatist, novelist and writer of world-renowned short stories."
The 1910 Nobel Prize in Literature was awarded to the German writer Paul Heyse (1830–1914) "as a tribute to the consummate artistry, permeated with idealism, which he has demonstrated during his long productive career as a lyric poet, dramatist, novelist and writer of world-renowned short stories."[1] He is the third German recipient of the prize after Rudolf Christoph Eucken in 1908.[2]
Paul Heyse translated Italian poetry in addition to writing short tales, poems, novels, and plays. He belonged to Die Krokodile and Tunnel über der Spree, two literary organizations. Heyse's became better known as a writer of short stories with his famous works Der Jungbrunnen ("The Fountain of Youth", 1850) and L'Arrabiata ("The Fury", 1852), which is one of his most well-known novellas. The emphasis of Heyse's writings is on individuality and freedom.[3][2]
He was dubbed Dichterfürst o prince of poetry, and he worked tirelessly to promote international understanding within Europe. His last published works were Letzten Novellen ("Recent Novellas") and Italienischen Volksmärchen ("Italian Folktales", 1914).[2]
Deliberations
Nominations
Heyse had not been nominated for the prize before 1910, making it one of the rare occasions when an author have been awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature the same year they were first nominated.[4] The nomination for Paul Heyse was made by a great number of professors and others in Munich, Berlin, Breslau, Halle, Leipzig and Vienna.[5]
In 1910, Maurice Maeterlinck, Paul Heyse, Thomas Hardy and Anatole France were shortlisted by the Nobel committee.[citation needed] During the delibartions, Hardy was dismissed because his works were deemed "too immoral and ungodly" and for his "depictions of fallen women and his atheism";[citation needed] France was dismissed "as not having the noble idealism that should characterize those awarded the Nobel Prize";[citation needed] Maeterlinck's evaluation was similarly held the previous year;[citation needed] and Heyse's works was praised for his outstanding novellas.[citation needed] Heyse's selection was considered vague, but it was suggested that he was one of the last acclaimed realists in Germany still alive from the 1860s and that motivated the committee to award him the prize.[citation needed][7][page needed]
Reactions
The Nobel Prize to Paul Heyse did not receive much attention in his native Germany. Responses outside the German-speaking world were far more numerous. Particularly in Italy appreciations appeared in many publications, as well as notices in French newspapers such as Le Figaro.[8]
Notes
^ abThe nomination was made jointly by W. Söderhjelm and Y. Hirn, both members of the Finnish Scientific Society
^ abThe nomination was made by a great number of missionary societies and individuals, of whom J. Ficker and C. Mirbt are considered qualified nominators.