Forgotten, Famous and Favourite Nobel Literature Prize Workshop

We are one month into the 120 Nobels Challenge. I have introduced you to the Literature Prize winners from 1901 to 1928. We have met famous and forgotten writers, like Rudyard Kipling and Karl Gjellerup. We have had many firsts - first woman, Asian writer, gay man, victim of plagiarism. We have had poets, novelists, essayists, philosophers and even one historian.

How you can do the 120 Nobels Challenge

1. Read my Saturday post with stories and highlights from seven Nobel Laureates

2. Follow the links to free resources to read at least one Nobel Prize writer

3. Leave me a comment about any of the forgotten, famous, or favourite Nobel Literature Prize winners you have enjoyed

4. And now, there is more!

What you learn about history and life from the Nobels

We have been surprised how many themes and stories of modern history are told through this literature prize - war and peace, nationalism and internationalism, empires and rebellion, art and power, love and hate.

I have learned a lot too, including brushing up on my literary and historical research skills. And my tally of the Laureates read has gone up from 44 to 64. There were many obscure writers in those first 27 years!

And, what about you? I would love to hear from you about any inspiration or sparks of curiosity you have about the Nobels. Old favourites? Forgotten loves? Surprising discoveries? Or curious side stories?

Two new ways to be part of the 120 Nobels Challenge

So, I am inviting all my readers to participate in the 120 Nobels Challenge in two new ways

• a monthly workshop discussion, and

• an open chat thread every week on your ideas about the 120 Nobels.

ANNOUNCEMENT: Monthly Workshop with me

In the monthly workshop discussion, I will review the prize winners, some of the themes, and some of my favourite texts and writers. And I would love to hear from you, either as part of the live workshop discussion or in comments on the video replay that I will post on the Wednesday.

I intend the workshop to be a friendly book club atmosphere and I will guide the discussion. I will share what I have learned along the way, some of the themes of world history and culture that resonate with us today. Most of all it is your chance to share your experience of the 120 Nobels Challenge, and chat about history and culture.

My first Live 120 Nobels Workshop will 16 July 16.00 pm (Australian Eastern Standard Time GMT + 9.00). This first workshop will be open for all subscribers

I will host via Riverside (not Zoom) and there is a limit of twenty on the live call.

Replay will come via Substack on 17 July

I will plan to go for about an hour, depending on numbers.

If you enjoy it, I will offer the next three workshops as a new bonus experience for paid subscribers.

Archive Reading Thread (A.R.T.) on Sunday

I will also start a weekly community chat thread on the 120 Nobels. One simple question, and then you tell me and other fellow Burning Archivists what you think. I know my readers have some great ideas and wisdom to share so this will be a chance to do so.

I will begin the Archive Reading Thread (A.R.T.) on Sunday. Feel free to dip into it on the day and during the rest of the week. It is best to access the chat through the App or on your desktop.

I will make access to the threads open to all subscribers. As a special benefit for my paid subscribers, your comments on the threads will shape what we discuss in the monthly workshops.

Recap on the Nobel Prize Winners and Themes 1901-1928

To help you take part in the challenge, here is a quick recap. Previously, on the 120 Nobels Challenge,

• WEEK 1 (1901-1906): Sully to Carducci

• WEEK 2 (1907-1913): Kipling to Tagore

• WEEK 3 (1915-1921): Rolland to France

• WEEK 4 (1922-1928): Benavente to Undset

There have been some big themes in world history:

• Internationalists vs Nationalists

• War and Peace

• Strife in the West - World War One and a lot of social strife in the turbulent 1920s - women vs men, workers vs upper classes, art vs social concerns 

Favourite Nobel Prize winner 1901 to 1928?

For a little bit of fun, I have a quick poll of my four favourite Nobel Laureates so far.

You can find all the winners from 1901 to 1928 in the posts linked above. Thomas Mann 1929 is coming on Saturday.

Let me know your favourite. But let me know if you prefer another, either as a comment now or at the live workshop, or a comment on next week’s replay

Quick Reminder of my first Burning Archive Workshop

My first Live 120 Nobels Workshop will 16 July 16.00 pm (Australian Eastern Standard Time GMT + 9.00). This first workshop will be open for all subscribers. But there is a limit of 20 on the live call with my current software account.

Replay will come via Substack on 17 July

Bonus for paid subscribers, coming soon

For paid subscribers I am also going to begin a special podcast doing a 30-60 minute 'audiobook' reading from one text of a Nobel Laureate texts or other great essay on history. I have done a few on YouTube, but I think they will work better as an exclusive access podcast right here on the Burning Archive Substack.