Tolstoy and the Nobel

The first recipient of the Nobel Prize was NOT Tolstoy, according to an article in the current New Yorker. Even though he was still allve then. An obscure Scandinavian won the prize. The Nobel committee was criticized for this neglect. So, in the next few years, it DELIBERATELY overlooked Tolstoy.

I wonder what the psychology involved is here. To convey the message, we're so powerful, we can do whatever we want -- even if what we do is obviously wrongheaded? I guess "perversity" is the right word for this.

Comment:

actually, selma lagerlof won the prize one of those years he didn't, and though obscure, she WAS a wonderful writer. but of course tolstoy gets MY prize.