Manas Ranjan Mahapatra, Puri, 29 December 2024
The world was stunned when Sartre refused to accept Nobel. And, it was a stunning experience for lovers of literature when Bob Dylan got a Nobel. Let’s discuss about two deserving authors who didn’t get the Nobel Award.
In 1900, two of Russia’s most prominent literary figures, Leo Tolstoy and Maxim Gorky, were photographed together at Tolstoy’s estate, Yasnaya Polyana. The photograph, taken by Tolstoy’s wife, Sophia Andreevna Tolstaya, captures a significant moment in Russian literary history. Sophia was not only a devoted partner but also a keen photographer, often documenting her husband’s life and interactions with key figures.
By 1900, Tolstoy, the celebrated author of War and Peace and Anna Karenina, was already a towering figure in world literature, known for his profound philosophical inquiries and moral writings. Gorky, on the other hand, was a rising star in Russian literature, renowned for his works depicting the struggles of the working class and his involvement in revolutionary movements. At the time of their meeting, Gorky was deeply influenced by Tolstoy’s ideas, particularly his humanistic views, and saw him as a moral authority.
Yasnaya Polyana, located in Tula Province, was more than just Tolstoy’s residence; it served as his intellectual haven and a place where many significant conversations and philosophical debates took place. The meeting between the two writers at this retreat marked an important moment of literary exchange, symbolizing the passing of the literary torch from the established Tolstoy to the younger, more revolutionary, Gorky. The photo not only documents their personal connection but also reflects the intellectual and cultural landscape of Russia at the turn of the 20th century.
But Leo Tolstoy didn’t get a Nobel….that’s the saddest part of History.
In 1926, Agatha Christie was on the brink of despair. At thirty-five, she was grappling with the profound grief of losing her beloved mother, an emotional blow that was soon compounded by the shattering revelation that her husband, Archie Christie, was in love with another woman and sought a divorce. The double shock plunged Agatha into a deep depression, leaving her feeling as if the best of life had slipped away. The only thing that kept her from succumbing to her darkest thoughts was her seven-year-old daughter, Rosalind, whose presence was a beacon of hope.
Agatha Miller had been a prodigious talent from an early age. Born into an affluent English family in 1890, she taught herself to read by the age of four, a sign of the extraordinary future that awaited her. At twenty-two, she met and married Archie Christie, a dashing pilot, on Christmas Eve 1914. Their marriage endured the trials of World War I, and they eventually settled in London, where their daughter Rosalind was born in 1919. By the time her marriage began to unravel, Agatha had already made a name for herself with five successful detective novels, though she could hardly have predicted the immense acclaim that lay ahead.
As she slowly emerged from the shadow of her failed marriage, Agatha found solace in her writing and sought new experiences to rekindle her spirit. A trip on the Orient Express lifted her mood, but it was an invitation to an archaeological dig in Iraq in 1930 that would alter her life forever. There, she met Max Mallowan, a distinguished archaeologist thirteen years her junior. Their love blossomed, and they married later that year. This new chapter marked the beginning of a joyous and enduring partnership that lasted until Agatha’s passing.
The year 1926, which once seemed like the end of Agatha Christie’s world, proved to be just the beginning. In the decades that followed, she would go on to achieve unprecedented success. Her novels captivated readers worldwide, making her the best-loved author on earth with over 70 best-sellers and the creator of the longest-running play in history. Her second marriage to Max Mallowan was a source of great happiness, and both received honors for their contributions to their respective fields—Max was knighted in 1968, and Agatha was made a Dame of the British Empire in 1971.
Agatha Mary Clarissa Miller Christie Mallowan passed away on January 12, 1976, at the age of 85. With more than two billion copies sold, she stands as the best-selling novelist in history, her legacy a testament to a life redefined by resilience and literary brilliance.
She also didn’t get a Nobel!
But, a person like Winston Churchill got it!
