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MUSIC ICON BOB Dylan will not attend the Nobel ceremony next month to accept his literature prize because he has “other commitments”, the Swedish Academy has said.
“The Swedish Academy received a personal letter from Bob Dylan yesterday where he explained that he could not make himself available in December…,” it said in a statement.
He wishes that he could accept the award personally, but other commitments make it unfortunately impossible. He underlined that he feels incredibly honoured by the Nobel prize.
The Swedish Academy said it respected Dylan’s decision, but that it was “unusual” for a Nobel laureate not to come to Stockholm to accept the award in person.
Nobel laureates are honoured every year on 10 December – the death anniversary of the prize’s founder Alfred Nobel, a Swedish industrialist, inventor and philanthropist.
Several other literature prize winners have skipped the Nobel ceremony in the past for various reasons – Doris Lessing on grounds of ill health, Harold Pinter because he was hospitalised and Elfriede Jelinek due to social phobia.
“We look forward to Bob Dylan’s Nobel lecture, which he must carry out – it is the only requirement – within six months starting from December 10, 2016,” the academy said.
‘Not disappointed’
But Sara Danius, the permanent secretary of the Swedish Academy, who received the news about Dylan not attending, told TT news agency that she didn’t know how or when he would deliver the lecture.
The 75-year-old, whose lyrics have influenced generations of fans, is the first songwriter to win the literature prize, although literature experts bet on writers such as Salman Rushdie, Adonis or Ngugi wa Thiong’o.
Dylan’s decision not to attend the ceremony does not come as a surprise.
The singer didn’t say a word about his prize on the day it was announced on 13 October when he was performing in Las Vegas.
‘Not disappointed’
Danius said she was “not disappointed” over Dylan skipping the ceremony.
“The prize is not (given) so that one will travel to Stockholm, but it is an award for a life’s work,” she said, adding that Dylan did not tell her what his “other commitments” were.
Asked on 28 October by the Daily Telegraph newspaper if he would attend the Nobel prize winners’ banquet, Dylan said:
Absolutely. If it’s at all possible.
Academy member Swedish writer Per Wastberg accused Dylan of being “impolite and arrogant”, and said it was “unprecedented” that the academy did not know if Dylan intended to pick up his award.
French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre rejected the Nobel prize in literature in 1964, but his name is still on the list.
The value of the prestigious award amounts to $870,000 (€812,000).
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He’s just in hiding until 2016 is over !!
Trump has 4 years to enstamp his brash ignorance on the world to the delight of his drone followers. Hopefully he leaves office peacefully in 2020. On his form so far he might cancel the next election.
On the upside, it might inspire Dylan to write some great songs about the dangers of absolute power, when you are already a power hungry narcissist.
Sure they might give Obama another one. If not he still can claim the petrol station as his legacy.
alphanautica you are getting great mileage out of the Noble prize for sure. It’s obviously excited you. I’d stay be have your stance on it now.
Wouldn’t hold my breath for that lecture.
@alphanautica: That’s an interesting point you make about ‘protest’ songs. It’ll be interesting to see how popular artists express their feelings about America during a Trump presidency. Also, who is the actor in your profile picture? I recognise his face but I can’t put a name to it.
He’s being a bit of a dick about the whole thing, isn’t he?
Yeah, he should just conform and crawl along the carpet to accept the award
He’d probably bring the harmonica with him if he went and bust into song. That’s the risk if he turns up.
Dylan never liked the public limelight and never allowed himself to be swayed by popular opinion. Dylan does very much what he wants to do.
Give it posthumously to Leonard Cohen instead.
Way more deserving.
@Rory Corbett: Nobel Prizes are not awarded posthumously, no matter how deserving the deceased person might be. That explains why Mahatma Gandhi never got one.
@ Rory Corbett
I agree, Leonard Cohen was a poet and in my eyes well deserving of a literary Nobel prize. Having said that, he wouldn’t want Dylan’s sloppy seconds and I wouldn’t like to see him get it just because Dylan was taking the piss about accepting his Nobel.
Dylan can always politely decline the award if he doesn’t want it or it’s too much bother for him. He wouldn’t be the first person to decline it. The very fact he hasn’t declined it tells me he does want it so I don’t really see what the problem is for him, maybe he’s just holding up his anti establishment image. Turn up and accept it or don’t, but have some manners along the way. I’m a Dylan fan but find this to be a bit much.
@Rory Corbett: Its not as if Cohen can collect it either
@Rory Corbett: David Hasselhoff was single-handedly responsible for bringing down the Berlin wall. And he’s still alive. Give him one.
Rory, I absolutely agree – Leonard Cohen for Nigel prize, posthumously. Why are there 38 thumbs down?
An ignorant P rick. For such a prestigious award he should make the effort.
Not everyone needs a medal to justify themselves.
I do amazing things every day, but I’d be sickened if some self-appointed organisation had the haughty ideals to award me a medal for it.
But sure isn’t this his thing, anti establishment etc. It’s hardly a shock.
He’s bang on. What relevance does some explosive guilt-complex b.s. award have to do with his passion to write songs ? The whole thing is highly contrived.
I’d say he’d accept a medal from a dying cancer patient or abused child in a second, but some glorified up their arse organisation that might have Donald Trump next on their list for his peaceful pussygrabbing ways? Next…
@king Tut: Who are you to judge, you small-minded little langer?
Sure when he played at the White House that time, he didn’t hang around after with everyone else. After playing, he shook Obama’s hand and left. He pretty much does what he wants, I don’t think he feels the need for medals or congratulations. Even a Nobel prize. Sure Obama got one for peace.. so its hardly the most meaningful thing in the world.
Maybe he thinks his literature is not worthy of a Nobel Peace Prize. Or maybe he thinks the Nobel award is not worthy of being called a Peace Prize.
Obviously he’s washing his hair that night.
Love it Dylan ….Priceless
Arrogant p…K…!!
The man has shit to do, whats the problem?
Screw him give it to someone with actual talent.
@David Quim: hahaha…nice one! Maybe this is the real Red Hurley, all bitter for the lack of recognition of his talent, envious of Dylan’s success throughout the rise and fall of the showband years…still, a few more weeks left in 2016…
They give Dylan this award but by Dylan actually turning up to accept it would mean he ceases to be the Dylan who won this award. Stay true Bob, don’t conform.
Novel prose is a farce anyway. Look at past winners
Try again
Give it to some one else who’ll appreciate it. Shouldn’t haven’t been awarded to him in first place
Bob Dylan hasn’t refused to attend for any political reasons, it’s just bad timing.
The Nobel committee should rearrange the schedule to suit him.
Would love to hear his acceptance speech live.
@Frederick Burden: “The Nobel committee should rearrange the schedule to suit him.”
They can’t change the date. on which Alfred Nobel died.
@Fintan Oflaois:
That’s a bit inconvenient then,
Frederick Burden.Are you mad?Heeeeeiiiiiigh, Like a rollin,…
But will he take the money?
What a dope, he doesn’t deserve it.
Nobel’s awarded to Kissinger and Obama. Sums up the credibilty of any of their awards.
Like I said last month it’s that kind of year lots checking out..maybe
Just send the prize money.
He`s probably washing his hair that day.
Time to go to the chemist for his
“Just For Men” though ….
have your say