Odds On Bob Dylan Winning Nobel Prize For Literature Increase
Posted by Joseph Lee on 09.20.2012
But he still probably won't win...
The Guardian reports that bets of $161 have been coming in for Bob Dylan to win the Nobel Prize for literature this fall, making him the second favorite over names like Philip Roth and Cormac McCarthy.
Dylan is at 10/1 odds to win the award. Only Japanese novelist Haruki Murakami is higher with odds of 7/1, according to Ladbrokes.
Spokesman Alex Donohue said: "[Dylan has] been backed from 33/1 into 10/1 thanks to some decent £100-plus bets … One of the big bets comes from Norway, the others are UK-based." He added that the average bet was $64, "high for this market when most people tend to have a tenner on their selection".
Dylan is an author as well as a musician. He wrote the poetry collection Tarantula in 1971 and was the subject of literary criticism by former Oxford Professor of Poetry Christopher Ricks. He also wrote his 2004 memoir Chronicles and is working on a sequel. However, this doesn't mean that he will win the Nobel Prize. Dylan's name shows up every year as a choice but he's never actually selected. Donohue added: "We're happy to 'fill the satchel' in bookmaking terms as we expect the Dylan backers to part with their cash again this year."
MA Orthofer, founder of international literature website the Complete Review said: "If you know anyone who has actually generously donated money to Ladbrokes by 'betting' on him please try to get them professional help, either from a psychiatrist or an accountant."
Ladbrokes has had a "steady stream of money" for British novelist Ian McEwan as well, whose odds wnet from 100/1 to 50/1. Czech writer Milan Kundera is "another well-fancied outsider" at 66/1. Murakami, however, "remains on course to stay favourite throughout the betting heat, even if the money continues to pour in for Dylan".
The Novel prize is awarded to "the most outstanding work in an ideal direction". Orthofer said playwright Tom Stoppard had also moved from 66/1 to 16/1 at Ladbrokes.
He added: "Remember that final deliberations for the winner have not yet begun – and won't for two more weeks; new names and odds-changes might indicate some information about who is on the shortlist, but given that Harold Pinter won only a few years ago I have my doubts another British playwright is already back in the running, and as far as Dylan goes … oh, get serious people: he is not in the running, never has been, never will be."
