Candidates for the 1962 Nobel Prize in Literature

2 January, 2013

All information concerning the nominations and selections of the Nobel Laureates is kept secret for 50 years.

Of the 66 individuals suggested for the 1962 Nobel Prize in Literature 15 were new candidates. The Nobel Committee for Literature had American writer John Steinbeck, the English poet Robert Graves and French dramatist Jean Anouilh on their “short list”. Danish author Karen Blixen and British Lawrence Durrell were also considered this year, but it was decided that Lawrence Durrell was not to be given preference this year and Karen Blixen died on 7 September 1962.

John Steinbeck, who was awarded the 1962 Nobel Prize in Literature, had been nominated in 1943, 1944, 1945, 1949, 1958, 1959, 1960 and 1961 as well.

Robert Graves had been nominated in 1950, 1960 and 1961.

Jean Anouilh had also been nominated the year before, in 1961.