Prizes and Awards
Search Blog Posts
The Nobel Prize in Literature is the most consequential recognition in the literary world. Awarded annually by the Swedish Academy since 1901, it has conferred its authority on writers whose work has, in the Academy’s enduring phrase, been of the greatest benefit to mankind — a formulation capacious enough to encompass poets, novelists, essayists, and…
One of the most influential economists of the twentieth century, American economist Milton Friedman received the 1976 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences for his research on consumption analysis, monetary history and theory and the complexity of stabilization policy. His work is so significant that it is now required reading for any student of economic…
Richard Feynman, born in May 1918, became one of the most well-known physicists of all time. Feynman was born in New York to Jewish parents, though he held no strong feelings toward his faith. He discovered early on his talent for engineering, maintaining a small experimental laboratory where he would repair radios. His practical scientific…
Born on May 8th, 1899 in Vienna, Friedrich August von Hayek was a scholar by nature and pedigree. His father and grandfathers either taught or studied the natural sciences and economics. When Hayek entered the University of Vienna, his intellectual appetites led him to pursue courses in philosophy, psychology, and economics. He was hired soon…
One of the most influential and popular expositions of classical liberalism ever published first appeared in March of 1944. The Road to Serfdom was first published in London by Routledge & Sons in March 1944 in the midst of World War II, and due to the book’s popularity during this time of paper rationing, Hayek…
Awarded annually since 1901, The Nobel Prize in Literature is given to any author “in the field of literature the most outstanding work in an ideal direction” (Alfred Nobel). One of five Nobel Prizes established by Alfred Nobel and awarded by the Swedish Academy, laureates of the Nobel Prize in Literature include William Faulkner, Albert Camus, Ernest…
[fusion_text] We have recently been awarded as one of the best places for “literary scene” in Palm Beach county by Palm Beach Illustrated Magazine. This is what they have to say: “Lovers of the written word are particularly smitten with Raptis Rare Books. A recent addition to Worth Avenue, Raptis specializes in first editions and inscribed…
Perhaps best known for the development of his mass–energy equivalence formula, E = mc2, German born theoretical physicist, Albert Einstein’s surname has practically become synonymous with the term ‘genius’ in modern popular culture. Einstein received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1921 for his “services to theoretical physics” which included his development of the general theory…
The famous Kennedy family first sailed to America from Ireland in 1849. Sometimes called the “Royal Family of America,” the Kennedy’s political influence began with P.J. Kennedy and was carried all the way through John F. Kennedy’s presidency, while his brothers Robert and Ted held positions as prominent senators. But while everyone knows the Kennedy’s in…
John Updike’s most famous work is his series on Harry “Rabbit” Angstrom: Rabbit, Run, Rabbit Redux, Rabbit Is Rich, Rabbit At Rest, and the novella “Rabbit Remembered.” They chronicle Rabbit’s life from young adult to his death, winning Updike the Pulitzer Prize for both Rabbit Is Rich (1981) and Rabbit At Rest (1990). While these…
Edith Wharton’s The Age of Innocence was recently named the greatest New York novel of all time by New York Magazine‘s critic, Sam Anderson. Here is what he writes: “New York is, famously, the everything bagel of megalopolises—one of the world’s most diverse cities, defined by its churning mix of religions, ethnicities, social classes, attitudes,…
At Raptis Rare Books, one of our specialties is signed first editions written by Nobel Prize winners. Therefore, the announcement of the new Nobel prize winners are always a fun time for us. Today, the Nobel Prize for Literature was awarded to Mario Vargas Llosa and our congratulations go out to him. The Nobel Prize…
On June 18th the world lost a legend in the literary world. Portuguese-born Nobel-prize winner Jose Saramago died at the age of 87 and was mourned by over 20,000 people in Lisbon at his funeral last week. Saramago was born Jose de Sousa to a family of landless peasants. His father was nicknamed Saramago, which…
