Henri-Louis Bergson was a renowned philosopher born in 19th-century France to a Jewish family of considerable repute. Although he excelled in science and mathematics during his school years, he later chose to study the humanities and went on to become one of the most influential philosophers of his era. His doctoral thesis, Time and Free Will: An Essay on the Immediate Data of Consciousness, later published in book form, earned him wide acclaim. Among his numerous works, Creative Evolution became particularly notable and achieved instant success. While Bergson did not establish a formal school of philosophy, his ideas profoundly influenced many renowned thinkers. In addition to his philosophical achievements, Bergson was recognized for his literary prowess. In 1927, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature for "his rich and vitalizing ideas and the brilliant skill with which they have been presented." Bergson was also a man of principle and courage. Although he had planned to convert to the Roman Catholic faith, he decided against it when he foresaw the impending persecution of Jews. Despite his failing health, he rose from his sickbed to register as a Jew when such registration became mandatory, even though he was officially exempted from the requirement.