Bob Dylan is (kind of) celebrating the fact that he won the 2016 Nobel Prize.
On the notoriously reclusive singer’s official website, a note now appears at the top of the page promoting his book, “Bob Dylan: The Lyrics: 1961-2012.” It simply reads, “Winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature.” That’s something, right?
The celebrated singer-songwriter was awarded the prestigious prize in Literature “for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition.” However, the Swedish Academy, which chooses the winner, has been unable to reach Dylan.
In a statement to TheWrap earlier this week, Academy permanent secretary Sara Danius said, “We have not yet established direct contact with BobDylan but I have spoken to one of his close colleagues, who was extremely gracious.” Dylan will still receive the prize even if he doesn’t attend the award ceremony.
“It would be fantastic if Dylan wanted to come to Stockholm in December but if he doesn’t want to, so be it,” Danius added. “It has happened before, for different reasons — think Alice Munro, Doris Lessing, Harold Pinter and Elfriede Jelinek, to name a few. Whatever transpires, the award belongs to Dylan, which is what is important as far as the Swedish Academy is concerned.”
7 Controversial Nobel Prize-Winning Writers, From Bob Dylan to Dario Fo (Photos)
It may be literature's greatest honor, but the Nobel Prize has sometimes drawn negative attention to writers as well as praise.
Bob Dylan Some critics claim the 2016 Nobel winner was undeserving because his songs contain unattributed work from others.
Harold Pinter The English playwright was slammed for his left-wing politics and sometimes scatological point of view.
Elfriede Jelinek One Nobel member was so upset about the consideration given to this "chaotic and pornographic" Austrian writer that he refused to participate in the deliberations.
Herta Muller The German novelist's win failed to impress Entertainment Weekly, which called her "another obscure Nobel Prize literature winner."
Mario Vargas Llosa The Peruvian writer has made more than a few enemies for his outspoken political views, especially concerning Latin American governments.
Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn No surprise here -- the dissident writer made no fans among the Soviet leaders he relentlessly criticized.
Dario Fo The Italian writer made fun of the Catholic Church, which was not amused; when he won the Nobel, a Vatican newspaper called him the author of "questionable works."
