Benítez Reyes Wins Nadal Prize 2007

By Aída Bardales -- Críticas, 1/15/2007

The 63rd Premio Nadal, Spain’s oldest and most prestigious literary award, was presented on January 6 to Felipe Benítez Reyes for Mercado de espejismos (“Market of Mirages”). The prize—which was established in 1944 and is awarded by Ediciones Destino (Grupo Planeta)—consists of 18,000 euros and publication of the work by Destino. Members of this year’s jury included authors Germán Gullón and Antonio Vilanova; Destino editor Emili Rosales; and previous Nadal prize winners Lorenzo Silva; Antonio Soler; Andrés Trapiello; and Eduardo Lago, who is also director of the Instituto Cervantes in NY.

The winning novel tells the story of two retired art thieves who receive a final assignment: to steal from Germany’s Cologne Cathedral the supposed relics belonging to the (Three) Wise Men. “From a stylistic point of view, I found [Benitez Reyes’s] use of language interesting,” Lago told Críticas, “it reveals the author’s relationship with poetry.” Lago— who’s Llámame Brooklyn was last year’s Nadal winning-work and has been translated into several languages—added that it was an emotional evening for him as he relived the night he was awarded the prestigious prize. “[It was] an event that changed my life.”

The vast works by Benítez Reyes—a native of Cadiz, a southern Spanish province—include essays, articles, novels, YA fiction, and even a play. However, he is mostly recognized as an established poet and is the winner of many awards for his many works.

Carmen Amoraga’s Algo tan parecido al amor (“Something So Similar to Love”) was selected finalist from 268 submitted works.

Mercado de espejismos will be available in the United States this winter.

Go to http://www.edestino.es/Data/Pildoras/Pack10/arc10_45.pdf for a complete list of past winners of the premio Nadal.