France: The Prophet of Nevertheless

"My present notoriety annoys me," wrote Jean-Paul Sartre puckishly last year. "I've lost the chance of dying un known." That became even more of a certainty last week when the Swedish Academy bestowed on him the 1964 Nobel Prize for Literature -an honor he didn't want. Unless he changes his mind, which is unlikely, he will be the first winner to turn down the world's loftiest literary honor.* Since, as the Swedish Academy pointed out, the award stands whether the recipient formally accepts it or not, Sartre is in the most enviable...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!