Shmuel Yosef Agnon was an Austro-Hungarian-born Israeli novelist, poet, and short-story writer. He was one of the central figures of modern Hebrew literature. In Hebrew, he is known by the nom de plume Shai Agnon. In English, his works are published under the name S. Y. Agnon. The Nobel Prize in Literature 1966, announced October 20, 1966. Shmuel Agnon (1/2), “for his profoundly characteristic narrative art with motifs from the life of the Jewish people”. Nelly Sachs (1/2), “for her outstanding lyrical and dramatic writing, which interprets Israel's destiny with touching strength”. Shmuel Agnon: born 1888, Buczacz, Austria-Hungary (now Buchach, Ukraine). Nelly Sachs: born 1891, Berlin, Germany. Wiki link Wiki link Data: the Nobel Foundation (CC0).