Dylan Declines Nobel Ceremony Invite

Don’t think twice, Sweden. Dylan has “pre-existing commitments.”

In a personal letter to the Nobel Academy, Bob Dylan has reportedly stated that he he will not attend the December award ceremony in Stockholm “due to pre-existing commitments.” The controversial Literature Prize winner won’t be the first prominent writer to skip the event — Doris Lessing, Harold Pinter, and Elfriede Jelinek all did the same. In a move that seems even more in character, Ernest Hemingway, who also failed to appear, prepared a speech that he requested the American ambassador to Sweden read on his behalf. Whether this means current ambassador, and former investment banker, Azita Raji will be performing “Blowin’ in the Wind” remains unclear.

While Dylan did say he was “very honored indeed” by the Academy’s decision, he has provided no indication if or when he will deliver his Nobel Lecture, which, by stipulation, is required to be given within six months of December 10th. In unrelated news, somewhere in America, Philip Roth continues weeping, alone.