LISTEN: Bob Dylan (Finally) Delivers Nobel Lecture

Image by Hannelore Foerster/Getty Images

By Talya Zax June 5, 2017

The saga of Bob Dylan’s oddly ambivalent acceptance of the 2016 Nobel Prize in Literature is finally over, as the singer-songwriter presented his Nobel Lecture on June 4.

“When I received the Nobel Prize for Literature, I got to wondering exactly how my songs related to literature,” Dylan said, opening the lecture.

After a brief unaccompanied introduction, he delivered his lecture over strains of piano.

New York Times culture writer Sopan Deb, who gained attention while working for CBS during the 2016 presidential race by posting prolific, fact-checked transcripts of Donald Trump’s campaign appearances, took the same skill set to Dylan’s lecture.

Behold in the majesty of Bob Dylan summarizing “The Odyssey” for you. The last paragraph blows my mind. pic.twitter.com/HWK7ktvf8g

— Sopan Deb (@SopanDeb) June 5, 2017

If that tidbit has you hooked, listen to the entire lecture, below.

Talya Zax is the Forward’s opinion editor. Contact her at [email protected] or on Twitter, @TalyaZax.

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