Bob Dylan Finally Has His Nobel Prize

Bob Dylan finally has his hands on his Nobel Literature diploma and medal, almost six months after his win was announced. Klas Ostergren, a member of the Swedish Academy, said the 75-year-old American singer-songwriter received his award during a small gathering Saturday afternoon at a hotel next to the conference center where Dylan was performing a concert later that night. Ostergren told the AP that the ceremony was a small, intimate event in line with the singer's wishes, with just academy members and a member of Dylan's staff attending. "It went very well indeed," he said, describing Dylan as "a very nice, kind man." Other members of the academy told Swedish media that Dylan seemed pleased by the award.

During his show hours later, Dylan made no reference to the Nobel award, simply performing a set blending old classics with tunes from his more recent albums. Dylan had declined the invitation to attend the traditional Nobel Prize banquet and ceremony on Dec. 10—the date of Alfred Nobel's death—pleading other commitments. But in order to receive the award worth $894,800, Dylan must give a lecture within six months from Dec. 10. He has said he will not give his Nobel lecture this weekend but a recorded version of it will be sent later. Taped Nobel lectures have been occasionally presented, most recently in 2013 by Canadian Nobel literature laureate Alice Munro. (More Bob Dylan stories.)