Dylan tells Swedish Academy he accepts Nobel Prize

FILE - In this Jan. 12, 2012, file photo, Bob Dylan performs in Los Angeles. Dylan, who was named the winner of the 2016 Nobel Prize in literature on Oct. 13, 2016, says he “absolutely” wants to attend the Nobel Prize Award Ceremony “if it’s at all possible” in December, finally breaking his silence about earning the prestigious honor. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File) FILE - In this Jan. 12, 2012, file photo, Bob Dylan performs in Los Angeles. Dylan, who was named the winner of the 2016 Nobel Prize in literature on Oct. 13, 2016, says he “absolutely” wants to attend the Nobel Prize Award Ceremony “if it’s at all possible” in December, finally breaking his silence about earning the prestigious honor. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File)

By Associated Press October 29, 2016 2 min read

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) – Bob Dylan has accepted the 2016 Nobel Prize for literature, the Swedish Academy said, adding that getting the prestigious award left him “speechless.”

The academy’s permanent secretary, Sara Danius, said Dylan himself contacted them and said “of course” he would accept the prize. Danius told Sweden’s TT news agency that Dylan called her Tuesday evening and they spoke for about 15 minutes.

“The news about the Nobel Prize left me speechless,” Dylan told Danius, according to a statement posted Friday on the academy’s website. “I appreciate the honor so much.”

It has not yet been decided whether Dylan will attend any Nobel events in Stockholm in December, Danius said.

In an interview with British newspaper The Telegraph posted Friday, Dylan was quoted as saying he “absolutely” wants to attend the Dec. 10 prize ceremony, “if it’s at all possible.”