Yesterday was the 2016 Nobel Prize Award Ceremony, where Bob Dylan was awarded his Nobel Prize in Literature. Dylan was unfortunately unable to attend the event in person, but to commemorate the honor, he prepared an acceptance speech which was delivered by Azita Raji, the United States Ambassador to Sweden.
"From an early age, I've been familiar with and reading and absorbing the works of those who were deemed worthy of such a distinction: Kipling, Shaw, Thomas Mann, Pearl Buck, Albert Camus, Hemingway," he writes. "These giants of literature whose works are taught in the schoolroom, housed in libraries around the world and spoken of in reverent tones have always made a deep impression. That I now join the names on such a list is truly beyond words."
Dylan goes on to discuss how important the stories in his songs are to him and to his listeners. "Well, I've been doing what I set out to do for a long time, now. I've made dozens of records and played thousands of concerts all around the world. But it's my songs that are at the vital center of almost everything I do. They seemed to have found a place in the lives of many people throughout many different cultures and I'm grateful for that."
In his place, Patti Smith performed at the ceremony. You can watch the whole thing here, and read his letter in full here.
