Manuel Rivas received the National Prize for Spanish Literature 2024. The jury rewarded the author for “the extraordinary narrative quality which combines emotional strength and formal beauty and for the solidity of a versatile and coherent journey constructed with sensitivity and defense of historical memory. , social responsibility and Galician language. Few authors on the Spanish literary scene, based on a firm commitment to their language, have managed to achieve such global recognition.
Furthermore, the jury noted that his work “accompanies his activism, with a pen which, without indoctrination, stirs consciences, incites reflection and stimulates reflection towards the defense of linguistic and cultural plurality and towards equality genres. Manuel Rivas, with a powerful and singular voice, creates literature and, with it, once again places Galician writing on the Olympus of national letters.
The prize, awarded by the Ministry of Culture, is worth 50,000 euros. It distinguishes the entire literary work, in any Spanish language, of a Spanish author, whose work is considered an integral part of the body of current Spanish literature. In its last edition, the award recognized Cristina Fernández Cubas, joining a long list of winners, including Luis Landero, Rosa Montero, José María Merino Sánchez, Luis Mateo Díez, Francisca Aguirre and Bernardo Atxaga, among others.
Manuel Rivas (La Coruña, 1957) is, in addition to being a narrator, poet and essayist, member of the Royal Academy of Galicia. His work in the Galician media and in the rest of the Spanish state stands out, covering both the direction of newspapers (such as the magazine “Luzes”) and the column in newspapers like El País or La Voz de Galicia. As a narrator, his short stories “A Million Cows” (1989), the Spanish Critics Prize, “In Wild Company” (1993), the Galician Critics Prize, “What do you want from me, my love ? » stand out. (1995), Torrente Ballester Prize and National Story Prize, “The Carpenter’s Pencil” (1998), Spanish Critics Prize, “Los libros arden mal” (2006), Spanish Critics Prize and Galicia and “The Last Newfoundland Day” (2015).
In the field of poetry he wrote works such as “Balada en las playas del Oeste” (1985), “Mohicania” (1986), “No Swan” (1989), Leliadoura Prize, “Costa da Morte blues” (1995). , ‘The City of the Night’ (1996) or ‘The Disappearance of the Snow’ (2009), the latter published simultaneously in all the co-official languages of the Spanish State. A large part of this production is collected in the volume “From the Known to the Unknown”. Poetic work (1980-2003)’ (2003). The last collection of poems published is “La boca de la tierra” (2015). Manuel Rivas has been translated into different languages, he has received numerous awards for his journalistic and literary career and some of his best-known works have been adapted for cinema.
