The Nobel Prize was established by Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite. He decided to use his fortune to create the prizes after an 1888 incident where a French newspaper mistakenly published his obituary, calling him 'The Merchant of Death.' Horrified at his potential legacy, he willed his wealth to award those who confer the 'greatest benefit on mankind.' The Literature prize, first awarded in 1901, was originally intended for works of an 'idealistic tendency.' This vague criteria led to early snubs of giants like Leo Tolstoy and Mark Twain. Today, it is the highest honor in the literary world, awarded for a writer's entire body of work rather than a single book.