#6
Tolkien Never Won the Nobel Prize?? Like How???
It seriously boggles my mind that Tolkien was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature and still didn’t win. Like… how??
The man literally created languages, built an entire universe from scratch, and basically laid the foundation for modern fantasy. We’re talking about someone who gave us The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, Silmarillion — and they said he lacked literary merit? EXCUSE YOUUUU!!!?
He was actually nominated back in 1961, and the Nobel committee just… dismissed it. Apparently, one of the evaluators thought his writing wasn’t “up to the standard” or whatever. And that blows my mind. Because if creating Middle-earth doesn’t meet the standard, then what even does? This is so damn personal!!!
Sure, maybe fantasy wasn’t “serious literature” to them back then 😂 but come on. Tolkien’s work wasn’t just popular. It was transformative. He was brilliantttt! Generations of writers, artists, game designers, and even academics have been shaped by his vision. He didn’t just write stories!! he created an entire mythology for a fictional world that feels more alive than half the real ones.
And the fact that he never got that recognition? Honestly? It’s one of those moments that makes you question what these prizes even mean. Like yeah, the Nobel is a big deal, but clearly it doesn’t always get it right.
Tolkien may not have won their prize, but he won something way bigger: cultural immortality and my heart 😁