Ahira's Hangar

Damn, I really hope the Nobel's aren't getting (too? more?) political. (Actually I don't know how political they are anyway...suppose it depends who you ask.

--A

Since you two are more well-read than me, I should throw the topic question back in your corner.

As for being political...well, there's the Nobel Peace Prize. Isn't it in effect a political statement?

Reading up a little on the Nobel prize on Wikipedia, it does seem deserving of its prestige, since it is rigorously judged. And since it's all private money - right? - the Nobel people shouldn't have to answer to anyone about their choices.

Yes, the peace award is quite often political .

But you would hope for better for an art prize, with judging made on the art rather than the national origin of the artist.

Actually , one of the best literary books I have read in awhile was a short story collection called The Royal Ghosts written by a man from Nepal now living in the US. The stories were all set in Nepal, and all were hauntingly beautiful and sad.

I would like to see the award sometimes go to writers like him - people not well known, but producing wonderful and beautiful work that helps people from other countries understand his/her homeland.

Other U.S. winners, William Faulkner and Issac Bashevis Singer. During his life time the late Shelby Foote was a frequently mentioned name for a Noble from the US world of letters.