The Nobel Prize in Literature is awarded annually by the Swedish Academy to authors for outstanding contributions in the field of literature. As we know, reading books written by the best of best writers is the best way to help us learn and grow. In view of such profound influence brought by reading these classics, we have compiled a list of the best books written by Nobel Prize Winners in Literature.
1. The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway
The Nobel Prize in Literature 1954 was awarded to Ernest Miller Hemingway "for his mastery of the art of narrative, most recently demonstrated in The Old Man and the Sea, and for the influence that he has exerted on contemporary style."
The Old Man and the Sea is the last fiction written by Ernest Hemingway who had a strong influence on 20th-century fiction. As one of his most famous works, it tells the story of an aging Cuban fisherman who struggles with a giant marlin in the Gulf Stream of Cuba. Many of his works are considered classics of American literature. Such as his other novels A Farewell to Arms, The Sun Also Rises and For Whom the Bell Tolls, which were based on his wartime experiences.
2. One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez
The Nobel Prize in Literature 1982 was awarded to Gabriel García Márquez "for his novels and short stories, in which the fantastic and the realistic are combined in a richly composed world of imagination, reflecting a continent's life and conflicts."
García Márquez achieved unusual international success as a writer with his novel in 1967 -- One Hundred Years of Solitude. This novel is often cited as one of the supreme achievements in literature. It also remains widely acclaimed and is recognized as one of the most significant works both in the Hispanic literary canon and in world literature. It tells the multi-generational story of the Buendía family who founded the town of Macondo.
3. The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
The Grapes of Wrath, published in 1939, is the best-known novel by John Steinbeck. And he got the Nobel Prize in Literature 1962 "for his realistic and imaginative writings, combining as they do sympathetic humor and keen social perception."
The Grapes of Wrath is regarded as an American classic. It evokes the harshness of the Great Depression and arouses sympathy for the struggles of migrant farmworkers and their subsequent hardships after migrating to California. This book is often required to be read in American high school and college literature classes due to its historical context and enduring legacy.
4. Lord of the Flies by William Golding
The Nobel Prize in Literature 1983 was awarded to William Golding "for his novels which, with the perspicuity of realistic narrative art and the diversity and universality of myth, illuminate the human condition in the world of today."
Lord of the flies the book is about a group of kids who get stuck on a deserted island, first they have to work together to survive, but slowly become rivals of each other. This book was included in the list of the 100 Best Young-Adult Books of All Time. It is also one of the nation's favorite books from school. And a must-read for anyone wanting to gain a serious understanding of English literature.
5. Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse
The Nobel Prize in Literature 1946 was awarded to Hermann Hesse "for his inspired writings which, while growing in boldness and penetration, exemplify the classical humanitarian ideals and high qualities of style."
For people in the hope of gaining spiritual illumination, Siddhartha is the book that you can start with. It is an Indian Poem that deals with the spiritual journey of self-discovery of a man named Siddhartha. The word Siddhartha is made up of two words, siddha (achieved) + artha (what was searched for), which together means "he who has found the meaning of existence". It teaches the importance of letting go in order to find the true peace, finding the meaning of life in simple moments, and gaining self-awareness through introspection.
6. Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
The Nobel Prize in Literature 2017 was awarded to Kazuo Ishiguro "who, in novels of great emotional force, has uncovered the abyss beneath our illusory sense of connection with the world."
Never Let Me Go is an outstanding dystopian science fiction novel. It was named as the best novel of 2005 as well as "100 Best English-language novels published since 1923". It tells of a society where clones are educated and brought up solely to provide their vital organs for regular people in the world.
7. The Stranger by Albert Camus
The Stranger is translated from a French novel L'Étranger. It was written by Albert Camus who was a French philosopher, author, and journalist. He was awarded the 1957 Nobel Prize in Literature for "his important literary production, which with clear-sighted earnestness illuminates the problems of the human conscience in our times."
Since Albert is famous for the philosophy known as absurdism, thus, in his book - The Stranger explores the treatment of questions about the meaning of life. And the author thought passivity was an acceptable way of experiencing life and treating others.
8. Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw
Pygmalion is a play by George Bernard Shaw who was the leading dramatist of his generation, and in 1925 was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature "for his work which is marked by both idealism and humanity, its stimulating satire often being infused with a singular poetic beauty."
Bernard Shaw has been rated among British dramatists as second only to Shakespeare. His influence on Western theatre, culture and politics extended to his death and beyond. Pygmalion was the most appealing of all Shaw's plays. It is a timeless read, thoroughly entertaining and thought-provoking. It tells the story of a poor, young flower girl who has been disrespected and overlooked because of her appearance and the dialect she speaks. Therefore, she decided to live alone and unmarried.
9. The Waste Land by T.S. Eliot
The best-known poem in the English language, The Waste Land, is written by T. S. Eliot who was considered one of the 20th century's major poets. He is also a central figure in English-language Modernist poetry, and was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature 1948 "for his outstanding, pioneer contribution to present-day poetry." The Waste Land is a poem about brokenness and loss. Especially after the first World War, most people experienced social, psychological, and emotional collapse.
10. The Collected Poems of W.B. Yeats by W.B. Yeats
The Nobel Prize in Literature 1923 was awarded to William Butler Yeats "for his always inspired poetry, which in a highly artistic form gives expression to the spirit of a whole nation."
If you are in love with poetry, you should not miss one of the foremost figures of 20th century literature, who is the Irish poet and dramatist -- W. B. Yeats. Through reading his works, you can understand the consciousness of an age. The Collected Poems of W. B. Yeats includes all of the published poems by Yeats, ranging from the hauntingly beautiful early lyrics to the magnificent later poems. And most of Yeats's poetry used symbols from ordinary life and familiar traditions.
11. The Golden Notebook by Doris Lessing
The Nobel Prize in Literature 2007 was awarded to Doris Lessing "that epicist of the female experience, who with scepticism, fire and visionary power has subjected a divided civilisation to scrutiny."
Doris Lessing is one of the most important writers of the twentieth century as well as a pioneer of feminist self-consciousness. And her book The Golden Notebook was labeled a feminist classic, which tells a woman searching for her identity amid the trauma of mental and societal breakdown, emotional rejection and sexual betrayal. This book is also one of the 100 best English-language novels since 1923.
TipsHow to Back up eBooks purchased from Amazon/Kobo/Google Play/Nook?
All the above books can be purchased through mainstream online ebook stores. If you want to back up your purchased books, you can follow this guide to get rid of DRM from Kindle/Kobo/Google Play/Nooks.
Amy Lopez crafts informative articles on eBooks and eReaders, uncovering optimal methods to enhance your eBook reading experience, and eagerly shares her findings with you.
