Spain

Madrid library in the building of the Queen Sofia National Museum Arts Centre, Madrid, Spain, exterior

Articles

Spain is experiencing a literary moment that could be described as excellent, with some outstanding authors who deserve to stand out on the international scene. This healthy situation is due to the fact that three generations of writers coexist. I will limit myself to those who are alive, but it must be said that three recently deceased novelists, such as Rafael Chirbes, Javier Marías, and Almudena Grandes, have a strong presence in the literary scene of our country.

Interviews

Book Fairs/Literary Festivals

The Fira del Llibre de València takes place annually in spring in the city of Valencia to promote books, reading, and bookshop activities. It is the second largest book fair in Spain, both in terms of commercial volume and the large number of cultural activities organized around books and reading. The Valencia Book Fair was established in 1965 and is currently held in the Viveros Gardens in Valencia.

The Madrid Book Fair is a popular cultural event held annually in Madrid at the El Retiro Park, with the aim of promoting books and reading, as well as the activities of companies, organizations, and institutions dedicated to the publication, distribution, and sale of books to the public. Every year, when the fair starts in May, a member of the royal family inaugurates the event with a morning walk among the booths.

The Seville Book Fair has established itself as the main event in the field in Andalusia and is one of the most important events of the year in the country. It is organized by the Seville Book Fair Association with the support of the Seville City Council. The Fair is held in autumn at the Plaza Nueva and hosts meetings, informative activities, literary walks, and more.

LIBER is an international book fair that traditionally alternates between Barcelona and Madrid. The event is dedicated to Spanish-language publishing and is open to all book sectors, with a special focus on digital content, new publishers, self-publishing, and intellectual poetry. It is held in October and offers an extensive program of professional and cultural activities.

Kosmopolis is a biennial literary event held in autumn at the Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona since 2002. Kosmopolis gathers writers, poets, scientists, musicians, filmmakers, playwrights, storytellers, journalists, actors, and comic-book artists to discuss important current issues and celebrate diverse genres. The festival aims to unite genres, interact with the sciences and to revise myths, traditions and identities.

Literary Awards

The Miguel de Cervantes Prize is the highest recognition given to the creative works of Spanish and Latin American writers, whose have significantly enriched the literary heritage of the Spanish language. The prize is endowed with 125,000 EUR and named after the Spanish author of Don Quixote de la Mancha.

The Prudenci Bertrana Prize is one of the most important prizes for novels in Catalonia. It was established in 1968 and is hosted by the city of Girona. The prize is dedicated to the writer Prudenci Bertrana and is a cultural symbol of Girona. The prize honors novels written in Catalan and is endowed with 42,000 EUR.

The National Literature Prize for Narrative is a prize awarded by the Ministry of Culture for a novel written by a Spanish author in any of the languages of Spain. The prize is endowed with 20,000 EUR. The prize is awarded annually since 1977.

The Planeta Prize is a commercial literary prize awarded since 1952 by the Planeta publishing house. The prize honors an outstanding unpublished work written in Spanish. With 1,000,000 EUR for the winner and 200,000 EUR for the runner-up, it is the highest-endowed literary prize in the world.

The Princess of Asturias Award for Literature was established in 1981 and awards a person, group, or institution whose creative or research work represents a significant contribution to the cultural landscape. The Princess of Asturias Foundation aims to contribute to the uplift and promotion of all scientific, cultural, and humanistic values.

Translation Awards

The National Prize for the Best Translation is awarded by the Spanish Ministry of Culture since 1984. The purpose of the National Award for the Best Translation is to distinguish the translation of a literary work into Spanish or any of the other official languages of Spain that has been outstanding among those published for the first time in the previous year.

The National Award for the Work of a Translator, first awarded in 1989, aims to recognize the body of work of a Spanish literary translator who has devoted special attention to the translation of literary works into any of Spain’s official languages. It is granted by the Ministry of Education and Culture.

Literary Residencies

The aim of Residencia Latitude 43 is to stimulate and promote literary creation in the context of A Coruña and its rich cultural life. The residency is open to writers with at least two publications. The programme provides an optimal environment for artists from all over the world to fully devote themselves to their creative projects, while also providing a venue for the public presentation of their work.

The Valparaiso Foundation offers artists from all over the world and from all creative fields, including musicians, writers, painters, sculptors and visual artists, a quiet and peaceful place to concentrate on creative work, free from distractions and daily duties. The farmhouse located in Mojácar (Almería) has eight private rooms and a library and offers individual workshops for painters, sculptors and visual artists, as well as a studio and auditorium for musicians. The creators can stay up to four weeks.

The Faber Residence, located in the Hotel Riu Fluvià in the city of Olot, was initiated in autumn 2016 and is directed by Francesc Serés. The Faber Residence is open to people from all kinds of disciplines related to the arts, sciences, and humanities, including writers, translators, filmmakers, playwrights, critics, journalists, and more. The stays last about a month. During the stay, residents collaborate on activities for students, professionals, and the general public.

PICE, a program of the Acción Cultural Española (AC/E), aims to promote the international presence of Spanish creators, professionals, and artists. Its residency programme is designed to provide participants with the time, space and means to work in optimal conditions. It includes production support and expert assistance to encourage the transition to professional practice. The program aims to help participants achieve the highest level of professionalism by equipping them with suitable theoretical and practical tools, as well as contacts in the complex world of art.

The Writing Residency at Casa Belmonte offers a one-month residency grant in a rural refuge for writers. It aims to give authors the opportunity to dedicate themselves exclusively to writing. The call is aimed at new writers of any age and nationality. To participate, the writer must submit a summary of their story, a narrative sample, and personal data.

Recently Published in Japan

“La perra”

Pilar Quintana
Translated into Japanese by Naoko Muraoka.
Published in 2022 by KOKUSHOKANKOKAI INC.

“PARADISO”

José Lezama Lima
Translated into Japanese by Keisuke Dan.
Published in 2022 by KOKUSHOKANKOKAI INC.

“QUÉ VERGÜENZA”

Paulina Flores
Translated into Japanese by Kenji Matsumoto.
Published in 2021 by Hakusuisha,Inc.