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Bob Dylan will not attend the Nobel Prize ceremony

Posted November. 18, 2016 07:17,   

Updated November. 18, 2016 07:25

한국어
It has been announced that American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan said that he would not travel to Sweden to receive his Nobel Prize for Literature because of his “pre-existing commitments.”

According to the BBC, the Swedish Academy said in a statement on Wednesday (local time) that it had received "a personal letter" saying the singer-songwriter was unable to attend the Nobel ceremony in Stockholm "due to pre-existing commitments." The organization said he wished he could receive the prize personally.

The organization said it respects his decision and he will not be the first recipient of the prestigious award to have been a no-show at the prize-giving ceremony. Harold Pinter, a British playwright, and Doris Lessing, a British writer, who were the winners of the prize in 2005 and 2007, respectively, were among others who did not attend the event. Jean-Paul Sartre refused to accept the Nobel Prize in 1964 but was on the list of Nobel Prize winners.

"We look forward to Bob Dylan's Nobel lecture, which he must give - it is the only requirement - within six months counting from the prize ceremony," the Swedish Academy said. Bob Dylan is the first pop singer ever to win the Nobel Prize but was criticized for being "rude and arrogant" because he could not be reached for a while.



Jung-Min Dong ditto@donga.com