The Pulitzer -v- Nobel Scorecard

These two awards are synonymous with classic literature. Only the best of the best are chosen, and sometimes those don’t even reach the bar. The Pulitzer and Nobel prizes are the two most distinguished awards that can be bestowed upon a writer and the competition is stiff. Although numerous well known books, poetry and plays have won over the years, there are countless others that never did win and have become ingrained in our culture regardless.

So, we all know the names of the prizes, but how much do we really know about those writers who win them? How do some writers win more than once? How can it be that some of the great writers were never awarded? Let’s delve into this writing mystery.

The Nobel Prize is just a bit older than the Pulitzer, by about 17 years or so. Both began around the turn of the century, in 1901 and 1918. Since then both prizes have been awarded annually to writers in a variety of categories. The Nobel gives out just one prize in Literature per year and that comes with the distinct title of Nobel Laureate. The Pulitzer on the other hand awards prizes in Drama, Poetry and Letters (books).

While there are a small amount of writers who have won the Pulitzer twice or more, the Nobel is awarded only one time in a person’s life. Once you’re in, you’re in. Whose work could have been so wonderful to have won the Pulitzer more than once you ask? You’ll have to wait for the scorecard at the end!

In order to win either prize a writer’s work must be nominated. In either competition the work must have been produced within the past year, however the Nobel is less strict on this particular point, considering other factors in their nominations. Both prizes are awarded by committees who evaluate the entries. The Pulitzer actually has an online application for those of us who want to send our work right in...no promises we’ll be heavily considered, but hey you could always say you were once under submission right?

It is interesting to note that an award has not been given each year of either prize. There have been years where either committee simply did not find a work or an author that they felt warranted the incredible accolade they wished to bestow. This has happened nine times in the Pulitzer Prize for Letters race, the 1970's being the hardest hit with no awards given in ‘71, ‘74 or ‘77. The Nobel has also had years where the did not award, however they have also double awarded at other time,

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