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The internet was stunned when they heard that Dylan had won the prize. American music legend Bob Dylan today won the Nobel Literature Prize, the first songwriter to win the prestigious award
and an announcement that stunned prize watchers. Dylan, 75, was honoured "for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition," the Swedish Academy
said. The choice was met by gasps and a long round of applause from journalists attending the prize announcement. The folk singer has been mentioned in Nobel speculation in past years, but
was never seen as a serious contender. The Academy's permanent secretary Sara Danius said Dylan's songs were "poetry for the ears." The Nobel award is the latest accolade
for a singer who has come a long way from his humble beginnings as Robert Allen Zimmerman, born in 1941 in Duluth, Minnesota, who taught himself to play the harmonica, guitar and piano.
Last year, the prize went to Belarussian author Svetlana Alexievich, for her documentary-style narratives based on witness testimonies. Dylan will take home the eight million kronor (USD
906,000 or 822,000 euros) prize sum. "Blowin' in the Wind", written in 1962, was considered one of the most eloquent folk songs of all time. "The Times They Are
A-Changin'", in which Dylan told Americans "your sons and your daughters are beyond your command", was an anthem of the civil rights movement and Vietnam War protests.
Awarding the 8 million Swedish crown ($930,000) prize, the Swedish Academy said: "Dylan has the status of an icon. His influence on contemporary music is profound." Swedish Academy
member Per Wastberg said: "He is probably the greatest living poet." Asked if he thought Dylan's Nobel lecture - traditionally given by the laureate in Stockholm later in the
year - would be a concert, replied: "Let's hope so." Over the years, not everyone has agreed that Dylan was a poet of the first order. Novelist Norman Mailer countered:
"If Dylan's a poet, I'm a basketball player." Sara Danius, Permanent Secretary of the Nobel Academy, told a news conference there was "great unity" in the
panel's decision to give Dylan the prize. Dylan has always been an enigmatic figure. He went into seclusion for months after a motorcycle crash in 1966, leading to stories that he had
cracked under the pressure of his new celebrity. He was born into a Jewish family but in the late 1970s converted to born-again Christianity and later said he followed no organised religion.
At another point in his life, Dylan took up boxing. Dylan's spokesman, Elliott Mintz, declined immediate comment when reached by phone, citing the early hour in Los Angeles, where it
was 3 a.m. at the time of the announcement. Dylan was due to give a concert in Las Vegas on Thursday evening. Literature was the last of this year's Nobel prizes to be awarded. The
prize is named after dynamite inventor Alfred Nobel and has been awarded since 1901 for achievements in science, literature and peace in accordance with his will. > *throws bob dylan
records out window of small yet functional tokyo > apartment. opens small bottle of beer* > it's fine. i'm fine. > — Murakami Protagonist (@Murakami_Tweets) October 13,
2016 > So happy to hear that Bob Dylan has won the 2016 #NobelPrize in > Literature. One of my heroes. Can listen to his music forever. > — Spencer FC (@SpencerOwen) October 13,
2016 > No, Bob Dylan is not the first singer to win the Nobel Prize for > Literature. Isaac Bashevis Singer won it in 1978. #NobelPrize > #BobDylan > — Anurag Tripathi
(@anurag999) October 13, 2016 > Don' t think twice, it's alright. Congrats, Bob #Dylan #NobelPrize > https://t.co/kq1JlZ781u > — Monika Pilath (@MPilath) October 13, 2016
> When Bob Dylan gets the Nobel, you know the times they have > a-changed #BobDylan > — Madhavan Narayanan (@madversity) October 13, 2016 > Congratulations to @bobdylan !!
Extremely well deserved!!#BobDylan > https://t.co/uXViSIoccx > — Adnan Sami (@AdnanSamiLive) October 13, 2016 > About time! Bob #Dylan awarded the #NobelPrize for Literature! Great
> award to a great Artist! > — Jonathan Levin (@Gawiesnr) October 13, 2016 > Bob Dylan gets the Nobel for Literature! For sure, the times they > are a-changing.. oh, and to
celebrate, everybody must get stoned :-) > — Mahesh Murthy (@maheshmurthy) October 13, 2016 > Wow moment! My bday mate Bob Dylan gets the Nobel prize for > literature! Congrats to a
legend! #Dylan > — Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) October 13, 2016