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Immediate dispatch from Somerset. Book in excellent unread/unused condition. See images. Fantastic book.

About the book >.>.> Although there had been a quiet Dylan-as-Nobelist over the years-supported in part by university academics who teach his lyrics in their class- rooms-many within the literary community squirmed. What about Philip Roth? What about Don DeLillo? What about…? The novelist Irvine Welsh derided the Dylan selection as an “ill-conceived nostalgia award.” The poet Natalie Diaz wondered why the late Bob Marley never got considered. Some writers groused about ancillary hings: Dylan is rich and famous enough already! He doesn’t need it! Or Song lyrics aren’t really literature! More than one writer suggested that Dylan follow the path of phi- losopher Jean-Paul Sartre who in 1964 was awarded the Nobel but refused to accept it. Yet many others indeed the heavy bulk of the public commenters were thrilled at the choice-both in admi- ration of Dylan’s writing and also because the committee had shown a willingness to buck tradition and test insti- tutional bias. At the vaunted Swedish Academy the times are a-changing. “The frontiers of literature keep widen- ing” Salman Rushdie told Britain’s Guardian while laud- ing Dylan as a personal inspiration. “It’s exciting that the Nobel Prize recognizes that.” Billy Collins America’s former poet laureate gave his blessing to Dylan’s Nobel. Songwriters cheered for one of their own. (“Holy mother of god” wrote Rosanne Cash.) Barack Obama tweeted his congratulations. (LL)