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Bob Dylan branded ‘impolite and arrogant’ by Nobel academy member who awarded him literary prize

The 75-year-old has been silent since the shock prize announcement

Olivia Blair
Saturday 22 October 2016 15:35 BST
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The only recognition from the artist was on Dylan’s website. However, this was later removed
The only recognition from the artist was on Dylan’s website. However, this was later removed (Getty)

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A member of the body who awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature to Bob Dylan has branded him “impolite and arrogant” for failing to publicly regard he has won this year’s prestigious prize.

It was announced on 13 October that the folk singer-songwriter had won the accolade for having “created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition”.

However, since then, the committee says it has been unable to get hold of Dylan and the man himself has not acknowledged the prize publicly despite performing in Las Vegas on the evening of the announcement.

One member of the Swedish Academy, who chose the recipient of the literature prize, has said the 75-year-old’s reaction is predictable but disrespectful

“One can say that it is impolite and arrogant,” Per Watsberg told the Swedish newspaper Dagens Myhete. “He is who he is.”

Mr Watsberg said the academy are still hopeful Dylan will attend the Nobel ceremony in December in Stockholm.

The only recognition of the prize at Dylan’s end was in the form of a reference on his website. However, this was later removed.

Representatives for Dylan did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Additional reporting by the Associated Press

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