In 1925, George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature.
He refused the prize stating that, "I can forgive Nobel for inventing dynamite, but only a fiend in human form could have invented the Nobel Prize".
The man felt no need for such a public accolade and stated that he would refuse the prize in its entirety.
Later, Shaw conceded to accept the prize at his wife, Charlotte's behest, but on the 18th of November 1926, stated outright that he would not, under any circumstances, accept the £7,000 in prize money. Charlotte had insisted on Shaw accepting the prize, as she saw it as more of a win for Ireland than for Shaw as an individual.
Shaw recommended that his prize money be used instead to fund the translation of works by playwright, August Strindberg, from Swedish to English.
