Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1953. According to the official wording, she was awarded to him "for his high skill in historical and biographical works, as well as for his brilliant oratory in upholding lofty human values."
Nobel Committee Favoritism Example
According to a very common opinion, the award of the Literature to Winston Churchill is one of the examples of the Nobel Committee. In 1953, Nobel trustees really wanted to give one of their prizes to the then current British Prime Minister. But what kind of prize to give this outstanding politician?
Unfortunately, the Nobel Prize for state wisdom does not exist. Typically, politicians are awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. However, Churchill would hardly have agreed to accept it. After all, he always sought where the war was going on: to Cuba, to India, Sudan, and South Africa. And on the world stage as one of the greatest leaders of nations, he proved himself during the period of global wars.
Probably fearing a refusal of a peace prize, members of the Nobel Committee decided to honor the politician with a literature prize. Moreover, Churchill was a famous writer, and his name was repeatedly listed among the possible applicants for the award. True, the first report on the candidate, written by the former Permanent Secretary of the Swedish Academy, Per Helström back in 1946, was rather negative in his conclusions.
Helstrom did not find any literary merit in the adventure novel Savrola, which the young lieutenant Churchill wrote to ease the boredom of garrison life in India. Two years later, a professor at the Swedish Academy, Nils Achnlund, prepared a second, more favorable report.
He emphasized the great importance of Churchill's work in documenting the events of the First World War. Nevertheless, the professor came to the conclusion that Churchill's historical work could not justify the Nobel Prize award. Therefore, they decided to add to his literary reputation Churchill his activities as a speaker.
