Carme Riera awarded the National Prize for Spanish Literature
On 1 June in an official ceremony, author Carme Riera, professor at the UAB Department of Spanish Studies and member of the Royal Spanish Academy, was awarded the National Prize for Spanish Literature from the Ministry for Education, Culture and Sports.
The jury awarded Riera for the "exceptionally high quality of her books in Catalan and Spanish in which she combines literary creations with research and dissemination, a multifaceted work of universal influence". The prize is worth 40,000 euros and is awarded for the set of works created by one author in any of the languages of Spain when "these works are considered an integral part of modern Spanish literature".
Carme Riera (Mallorca, 1948) is member of the Royal Spanish Academy, where she occupies the seat 'n'. She is specialist in the Spanish Golden Age and a renowned Catalan author with works such as Te deix, amor, la mar com a penyora, Dins el darrer blau, La meitat de l'ànima, and the memoirs Temps d'innocència.
She has received many awards, including the Prudenci Bertrana, Ramon Llull, Josep Pla, Lletra d'Or, Joan Crexells, the Association of Catalan-Language Writers and the Spanish National Novel Prize. In 2001, she was awarded the National Literature Prize of the Government of Catalonia; and in 2003 she received the Sant Jordi Novel Prize for 'La meitat de l'ànima'. She was also awarded the Creu de Sant Jordi Prize in 2000, and in 2005 she received the Medalla d'Or from the Island Council of Mallorca.