Nobel Prize Address for Literature
溫斯頓·倫納德·斯賓塞·丘吉爾 / Winston L.S.Churchill
溫斯頓·倫納德·斯賓塞·丘吉爾（1874—1965），英國傳記作家、曆史學家和政治家，生於牛津附近的布萊尼姆宮。1893年考入桑德斯特陸軍軍官學校，1895年，以少尉軍銜編入皇家第四騎兵團。1945年，在反法西斯勝利前夕，因保守黨在大選中失敗，丘吉爾失去首相職位。其後，他用6年時間完成了六卷本《第二次世界大戰回憶錄》。1951年，保守黨在選舉中獲勝，丘吉爾77歲高齡再次出任首相。1955年因年事高辭職退休，專心撰寫四卷本《英語民族史》。1965年1月因腦溢血辭世。
Pre-reading Activities
Before you read this article, think over the questions below.
What do you know about Winston Churchill as a British prime minister or a winner of Nobel Prize？Do you know anything about his personality？
The roll on which my name has been inscribed represents much that is outstanding in the world’s literature of the twentieth century.The judgment of the Swedish Academy is accepted as impartial, authoritative and sincere throughout the civilized world.I am proud but also awestruck at your decision to include me.I do hope you are right.I feel we are both running a considerable risk, and that I do not deserve it.But I shall have no misgivings if you have none.
Since Alfred Nobel died in 1896 we have entered an age of storm and tragedy.The power of man has grown in every sphere except over himself.Never in the field of action have events seemed so harshly to dwarf personalities.Rarely in history have brutal facts so dominated thought or has such a widespread individual virtue found so dim a collective focus.The fearful question confronts us: Have our problems got beyond our control? Undoubtedly we are passing through a phase where this may be so.Well may we humble ourselves and seek for guidance and mercy.