Better late than never. Eight months after winning the Nobel Prize in in Literature, Bob Dylan has sealed the deal to collect the $900,000 monetary award.

Graphic accompanying Bob Dylan speech accepting Nobel Prize in Literature.
Sunday in Los Angeles, the singer recorded his mandatory acceptance speech.

“When I received the Nobel Prize for literature,” Dylan says in the 27-minute talk, “I got to wondering exactly how my songs related to literature. I wanted to reflect on it, and see where the connection was.”

The New York Times noted: “He begins with Buddy Holly, a hero that may surprise the professors but will be familiar to any Dylan fan. Holly presented the archetype of a performer who melded country, rock, and rhythm and blues, and gave an early inspiration.”

“He then chronicles the influence of Leadbelly and folk music before turning to several literary war horses that he said he read ‘way back in grammar school’: ‘Moby-Dick,’ ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ and ‘The Odyssey.’”

Sara Danius, the Nobel-awarding Swedish Academy’s permanent secretary, wrote in a blog post: “The speech is extraordinary and, as one might expect, eloquent.”

“In April, the members of the Academy met with Bob Dylan in Stockholm to present him with the gold medal and the diploma,” she said. “Now, the Academy is pleased to acknowledge the receipt of the Nobel Lecture. We would like to take this opportunity to thank Bob Dylan and his staff… for having cooperated so beautifully.”

Now comes the dissection.

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