The 2016 Nobel Prize for Literature has, for the first time in 23 years, been awarded to an American. The last winner was Toni Morrison in 1993. This year it went to singer/songwriter Bob Dylan. Dylan won the award "for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition".
There has been some consternation that the award went to a songwriter instead of a novelist or poet, but there shouldn't be. Dylan's lyrics stand beautifully without any musical accompaniment. It is poetry of the highest order. The music enhances his poetry, as music can enhance any poetry by any other poet -- but the lyrics (i.e., poetry) written by Dylan would be successful if just printed as a volume of poetry.
Dylan was a master of words and imagery, and his words spoke to millions of people in a profound way. I applaud the Swedish Academy for selecting Bob Dylan to receive this award. It was a bold choice, and one that was well deserved.
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