On October 23, 1969, Samuel Beckett’s publisher, Jérôme Lindon, received a telegram from the Swedish Academy informing him that Beckett had been awarded the 1969 Nobel Prize in Literature. Lindon swiftly relayed the message to Beckett with a telegram of his own: “Dear Sam and Suzanne. In spite of everything, they have given you the Nobel Prize–I advise you to go into hiding.”

According to Lindon, both Beckett and his wife were appalled and distressed by the announcement of the prize. Beckett anticipated the disruption of his reclusive lifestyle by way of this immediate spike in fame.

Beckett, then staying at the Hotel Riadh in Nabeul, Tunisia, nevertheless agrees to an interview with Swedish Television but on the condition that he is asked no questions.