Bob Dylan won't go pick up his Nobel in person, because 'pre-existing commitments'

Bob Dylan ain't picking up his Nobel in person
(Image credit: Stephen Maturen/AFP/Getty Images)

The Swedish Academy ruffled some literati feathers by choosing Bob Dylan as the first songwriter to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, and Dylan isn't exactly rewarding them with enthusiastic gratitude. He did not take their calls for nearly two weeks, didn't even acknowledge the honor until a brief mention of it appeared then disappeared on his website five days after the Nobel was announced on Oct. 13, and only revealed that he had accepted the prestigious award (and its $870,000 check) in an Oct. 28 interview with a British newspaper. On Wednesday, the Swedish Academy said Dylan won't show up on Dec. 10 to accept his Nobel Prize.

"Yesterday evening the Swedish Academy received a personal letter from Bob Dylan, in which he explained that due to pre-existing commitments, he is unable to travel to Stockholm in December and therefore will not attend the Nobel Prize Ceremony," the academy said in a note on its website. "He underscored, once again, that he feels very honored indeed, wishing that he could receive the prize in person." The Swedish Academy said the decision to skip the ceremony is "unusual, to be sure, but not exceptional," and that the prize is still his as long as he gives a Nobel Lecture within six months.

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.