Receipt of a Nobel Prize is clearly one of the major events in the lifetime of those fortunate enough to be chosen. Laureates are expected to accept their gold medal and certificate in person at a majestic ceremony steeped in tradition, held in Stockholm or Oslo (the Peace Prize) on December 10th, the anniversary of the death of Alfred Nobel. The prize is never awarded posthumously and it is therefore rare that a Nobel laureate has failed to appear for the award presentation. Among those rarities are five laureates of particular interest, whose absence reflects more the temper of their time, than of their achievement.
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