Nobel prize academy member calls Bob Dylan ‘impolite and arrogant’ over award silence

BOB Dylan’s refusal to say anything about winning the Nobel prize in literature is “impolite and arrogant”, a member of the award body has said.

Bob Dylan has said nothing about his surprise win. Picture: Kevin Winter/AFP

A MEMBER of the Swedish Academy that awarded the 2016 Nobel prize in literature to Bob Dylan says the US singer-songwriter’s silence since receiving the honour is “impolite and arrogant.”

Per Wastberg said Dylan’s lack of reaction was predictable but disrespectful nonetheless. He was quoted telling the Swedish newspaper Dagens Myheter in Saturday’s edition: “One can say that it is impolite and arrogant. He is who he is.”

Wastberg said the academy still hopes to communicate with the 75-year-old artist, whose award credits him with creating “new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition.”

The award credits Dylan with creating “new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition.” Picture: Amelia Querfurth/AFP

The academy says it has failed to reach Dylan since the award announcement on October 13.

The singer even pulled a mention of it from his website.

After a week of failing to return calls from the Nobel committee, the enigmatic artist’s page promoting a book of his lyrics was suddenly updated with the phrase: “Winner of the Nobel prize in Literature.”

But a day later the words were removed without explanation.

The audience reacts as Permanent Secretary of the Swedish Academy Sara Danius announces that Bob Dylan is awarded the 2016 Nobel prize in Literature. Picture: AFP

It’s still not clear if Dylan, 75, will actually show up to accept the award, plus a cash prize of about $740,000, at a ceremony planned for November 10 in Stockholm.

“If he doesn’t want to come, he won’t come,” Swedish Academy secretary Sara Danius has said. “It will be a big party in any case and the honour belongs to him.”

Some fans have suggested he should refuse the title of Nobel laureate, although the Nobel committee lists winners even if they don’t want the prize, The Guardian reported.