it does not work in the favor of public opinion or political authorities.
In contrast to the other categories, the Nobel Peace Prize can be attributed to institutions and organizations as well as individuals. The Norwegian Nobel Committee does not receive outside orders of any nature and, in accordance with the statutes of the Nobel Foundation, should not reveal anything that takes place within the meetings that lead to the selection of the laureates. To such ends, the members do not take part in the debates that follow the announcement of the decision.
The Norwegian Nobel Institute was created in 1904 and, in 1905, it moved into a classic mansion in the centre of Oslo. At the time the site was completely renovated, and the Nobel Foundation was criticized for spending too much money on the work. The main obligation of the Norwegian Nobel Institute is to support to the Norwegian Nobel Committee during the selection process of laureates, as well as to organize events in Oslo dedicated to the Nobel Peace Prize.
As a way of showing its status as the center of knowledge related to peace and world questions in general, the institute has created a library with approximately 175,000 volumes. The works available in the library are principally concerned with peace, international relations, law, economics and political history. The library is open to the public and has a pleasant reading room. The institute also organizes seminars, meetings and conferences with specialists from around the world.
They laugh at me, the man of dynamite as a man of peace. But, since men don’t listen to reason, it is necessary to invent an instrument of death which, through fear, will make Humanity move to peace. — Alfred Nobel
Sully Prudhomme (1839–1907)
1901 Literature
In special recognition of his poetic composition, which gives evidence of lofty idealism, artistic perfection and a rare combination of the qualities of both heart and intellect.
René François Armand Prudhomme, better known by his literary pseudonym Sully Prudhomme, did not begin his career with the world of letters in mind. The son of a storekeeper, he intended to study science and enrolled in a polytechnic institute. An eye disease, however, forced him to change his plans. The disappointed young Frenchman soon turned to literature and took pleasure in the study, recording his thoughts and reading avidly. Nevertheless, Prudhomme was not able to make a living from his writing, so he accepted a clerical position in a factory. Understandably dissatisfied, he left the factory in 1860, determined to study law, and he soon began working in a lawyer’s office.
During this time he was a member of the distinguished student society “Conférence La Bruyère,” and it was here that Prudhomme heard the first words of encouragement for his literary pursuits. In 1865, at just 26, he published his first work, Stances et poèmes (Stanzas and Poems), a collection of fluent, melancholic poems inspired by a passionate dissatisfaction with life. Sainte-Beuve, a writer and influential French literary critic, gave the book a favorable review, which helped Prudhomme’s reputation. One of these early poems, “Le vase brisé” (“The Broken Vase”), remains popular today.
In 1866 Les Épreuves (Trials) was published and, three years, later came Les Solitudes. These works, similar in style and content to Stances et poèmes, are dominated by romanticism and emotionalism. It was not long, however, before this early lyrical phase of his writing evolved. This change is credited to the influence of the Parnassian school, of which he would go on to become a preeminent member. Presenting philosophical concepts in verse dominated Prudhomme’s latter poetical works, particularly La Justice (Justice, published in 1878) and Le Bonheur (Happiness, 1888).
Prudhomme’s literary career was characterized by intense activity, as can be seen by his vast bibliography. Besides his best-known works listed above, he wrote Croquis italiens (Italian Notebook, 1866-68), Impressions de la guerre (Impressions of War, 1870), Les Destins (Destinies, 1872), La Révolte des fleurs (Revolt of the Flowers, 1872), La France (1874), Les vaines tendresses (Vain Endearments, 1875) and many others.
In 1881, aged 42, Sully Prudhomme was elected a member of the prestigious French Academy, which demonstrated his peers’ respect and admiration for him. His highest level of recognition came when he was awarded the 1901 Nobel Prize in Literature.
Jean Henry Dunant (1828–1910)
1901 Peace
For actions developing the organization of the Geneva Conventions of 1863 and 1864 and the International Red Cross, created by these conventions.
Jean Henry Dunant seemed destined to dedicate his life to others. The son of a respected and prosperous couple, he grew up in Geneva, Switzerland, admiring his parents’ philanthropic efforts within their community. At the age of six, he went with his father, Jean Jacques, on a visit to a penitentiary in Toulon, France. For the little Dunant, the sight of the chained prisoners was shocking and had lasting effects. Later in life, this memory led him to dedicate his Sunday afternoons to visiting prisoners.
Entering the world of business, Dunant first went to Algeria, where he managed an estate. A number of difficulties arose for him in the French territory, however, due to his Swiss citizenship. He decided that the best hope of resolving his problems was to speak personally with Emperor Napoleon III and convince the Emperor to grant him concessions to explore new lands. When news arrived that Napoleon III was leading French troops in Italy to expel the Austrians at what was to be the Battle of Solferino, Dunant made his way north to meet the Emperor.
When he arrived at Solferino, however, his intentions were shattered upon witnessing the violence of the fighting. When the battle was over, one of the bloodiest of the 19th century, Dunant put his own concerns aside and began ministering to the needy. In 1862 he published A Memory of Solferino. The book brought him fame and presented a detailed plan to create a structure aimed at supporting the wounded in times of war. This effort led to the formation of the International Red Cross, which he established in 1863. It was recognized a year later by the Geneva Convention, and the idea was worthy of the first Nobel Peace Prize.
Dunant set aside his business concerns to dedicate himself to helping others, and it is no surprise that he went bankrupt in 1867. After his setbacks in business, which also involved some of his friends in Geneva, Dunant was no longer welcome in his hometown. Instead he chose to live in Heiden, a small Swiss town, where he lived mostly in obscurity. He fell ill in 1892 and was transferred to the hospital in Heiden, where he would die 18 years later.
After 1895, while Dunant remained hospitalized, he was recognized more frequently and was honored with various prizes, including the Order of Christ in 1897, awarded by Portugal. Dunant, who never married or had children, maintained his generosity to the end, giving the money from his prizes to those who cared for him in the hospital and to humanitarian institutions in Norway and Switzerland.
Frédéric Passy also received half of the prize.
Emil Fischer (1852–1919)
