Bob Dylan has spoken about being awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature for the first time, over two weeks since he first earned the honour.
Dylan was announced as the recipient of this year’s award back on October 13, having been credited with “creating new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition”.
As for Dylan's "impolite and arrogant" lack of response about the prize and the Swedish Academy's fruitless efforts to get in touch with the singer since the award was announced, Dylan quipped simply,
"Well, I'm right here."In a separate announcement Friday, the Nobel Foundation revealed that they did finally get in contact with Dylan about the prize. "The news about the Nobel Prize left me speechless," Dylan told the Swedish Academy. "I appreciate the honor so much." Dylan added, "If I accept the prize? Of course."
The Nobel Foundation reiterated that it "has not yet been decided" if Dylan would attend the ceremony.Despite this, Dylan failed to initially acknowledge the honour, and was labelled as “impolite and arrogant” by one member
of the Nobel Academy after failing to reply to the organisation.However, in a new interview with The Daily Telegraph, Dylan has finally spoken about the award, emphasising his gratitude to the Academy for being recognised in such a manner.“It’s hard to believe,”
Dylan said. “[Being awarded the Nobel Prize is] amazing, incredible. Whoever dreams about something like that?” Asked about why he chose to be silent on the matter for so long,
Dylan only replied: “Well, I’m right here.”Dylan also said he plans to attend the awards ceremony in Stockholm on December 10 “if it’s at all possible,” though he says he “absolutely” wishes to turn up to receive his prize in person.Prior to the interview, Dylan looked set to follow in the footsteps of Albert Einstein and Jean-Paul Sartre in snubbing the Nobel Academy.
