> In 1953, Winston Churchill was awarded the Nobel Prize in which category?And the answer: literature. Photo courtesy: public domain.While Churchill had previously been a nominee forthe Nobel Peace Prize, he won in 1953 for Literature. The official declarationexplains that he won for "his mastery of historical and biographicaldescription, as well as for brilliant oratory in defending exalted humanvalues."The Nobel was awarded to Churchill following several years of deliberation. Upuntil his nomination for the prize, it was generally understood that the Academyhad assumed an obligation not to crown any writer who was either holding agovernment position or playing a prominent political role in his country at thetime of his candidacy. Churchill's nomination deserted this precedent. In fact,it, too, bent the rules of secrecy regarding the final vote, as the PrimeMinister was consulted several days before his win was announced. While heexpressed his immediate gratitude and honor to receive such a prize, his privatesecretary recalls Churchill's personal reaction:> “Churchill deeply wished to be remembered as a peacemaker…. I remember vividlyhis early and touching joy, which turned to indifference when he learned that itwas for Literature and not for Peace.”Churchill produced many thorough, non-fiction works over the course of hisforced hiatus from Parliament. His six years of involuntary leisure were devotedto composing six volumes of notes and memoirs on the Second World War, of whichthe last was published in 1953. It was a sustained consideration of his work Marlborough that ultimately won Churchill the esteemed prize. Check out the video below to see Lady Churchill claim the prize on behalf of herhusband.