On December 22, 1989, the world lost celebrated Irish author and playwright Samuel Beckett. He was 83 years old. Beckett was known for his avant-garde work, including the classic novels Molloy, Malone Dies, The Unnamable, and Waiting for Godot. He was the recipient of numerous awards, including the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1969; the International Poetry Award in 1982; and the Shakespeare Prize in 1976. Beckett's work was widely celebrated in the art world, particularly in his native Ireland. In 1961, the Dublin Festival of Arts honored him with a special award for "the outstanding rejoinder of modern literature." Beckett will be remembered for his extraordinary contributions to the literary canon and his indelible mark on the world of theatre. He will be missed by all those who had the privilege to have known him.