There are not as many as eighty, which means how many years will the Nadal Trophy be in a few days, but there are quite a few. Novels deemed worthy of this awardIt is the oldest literary work in Spain, which I treasure in my library. related to NothingThere are several editions of Carmen Laforet’s work, which opened the competition’s honor roll before it became historic, one of which is the first and is in English, dated 1958, and features a woman dressed like a flamenco, comb and all, so the only way the British would have seen the Spanish woman of the time This must be it, even though it’s hard to believe, The hero of this novel is Andrea.
I browse the shelves of my bookstores, research and focus on some books and their authors: The shadow of the cypress is longrelated to Miguel Delibes; Northerrelated to Elena Quiroga; Jaramarelated to Rafael Sánchez Ferlosio; between the curtainsrelated to Carmen Martin Gaite; first memoryrelated to Ana María Matute; This was lonelinessrelated to Juan José Millás; The impatient alchemistrelated to Lorenzo Silva; What I know about vampiresrelated to Francisco Casavella…
In this list, unfinished, under construction, part of the project. emotional education and therefore literary, so that when the time came I dared to write, and many years later, like one who throws a message in a bottle into the sea, I dared to send a manuscript and chose the 78th edition of this book. The reward that reading so much has earned me.
I didn’t have no aspiration. What I, who was nobody and who was nobody, still carried was impossible. imposter syndromefighting with him journalist and writerThe writer and journalist can win this award and even become one of the finalists, as the only product that varies depending on the order of factors is narrative.
I guess that’s what Carmen Laforet was thinking when she sent an envelope with her novel, almost on deadline, at the last minute, with every possible stamp on it and some more. his was the last original to arrive at the magazine’s Barcelona editorial office. extinct magazine destination.
He was the director of the publication. Ignacio Agustíarchitect of an award he hoped would boost public morale writers of the timedecreased for too long post war period and for the difficulties and disappointments of it Dictatorship Spain in black and white. With 5,000 pesetas (current allocation 30,000 euros) and the promise of literary glory were enough. And I think that was enough. The name of the award was chosen in his memory Eugenio NadalProfessor of literature and editor-in-chief of the magazine destinationdied in April 1944 and The decision was announced on January 6, 1945..
A story that is history
It’s a story so well-known that it’s almost history, but it’s worth telling it once again. Then the journalist and well-known man César González-Ruano, who had recently returned to Spain, was at half-time. He was convinced he would win. with his novel that he submitted to the new award palau terrace. But if that were the case, the reward would most likely not be what it is today, because since then Three Kings Day in Barcelonaat a loss Swiss Coffee (Moved in 1949 glacier restaurant; one year later, Hotel Oriente and in 1958 the ceremony was definitively moved to another location. The Ritz Hotel, now the Palace), Nadal beat Laforet, not the other way around.
HE jurygathered there and made up of critics Juan Ramón Masoliver and Rafael Vázquez Zamoraas well as editors Josep Vergés, Joan Teixidor and previously mentioned Ignacio AgustíHe preferred the young writer who served as president –Laforet was 23 years old– and probably made him immortal, despite himself.
After it was published, Nothing Considered innovative by critics existential novel and started to compare masterpieces literature like Nausearelated to Sartre’s, Abroadrelated to Camusanyone Wuthering Heightsrelated to Emily Brontë. The rest is History again.
Success is the biggest claim
HE the success of that book It became the main attraction of an award from the first author and continued in subsequent years. discovering writers Over time, he even won the Cervantes Prize. The first of these was Miguel Delibes, who took over Nadal in 1947. The shadow of the cypress is long. That night, January 6 – there are few rewards of such a ritual nature – Delibes was captured after careful consideration by the jury in the newspaper’s editorial office. North of CastileWhere worked as a journalist.
A teletype announced that he was a finalist, and at dawn the newspaper’s director, Gabriel Herrero, confirmed that he was the winner. “He opened all doors for me. He approved me as a writer.”Delibes even said this in an interview. first edition The shadow of the cypress is longFive thousand copies sold out in bookstores in three months.
Other Servantine Nadal’s owner is Rafael Sánchez Ferlosio. The wise man in slippers from Madrid’s Prosperidad neighborhood He won his award in 1955. Jarama and two years later his wife, Carmen Martín Gaite, did the same. Carmina presented between the curtains With a nickname that is very familiar to her, at least: Sofía Veloso, the name of her grandmother. As he later admitted, Sánchez said nothing to Ferlosio that he had submitted the novel to the competition for fear that he would discourage him with his “criticisms”. She followed the vote on the radio at home while taking care of her young daughter.Sanchez Ferlosio He was giving an enlightening speech Cafe Gijon– and after receiving the call Josep VergesFinally he sat down on the ground.
The phenomenon of female novelists
“With its publication in 1944 Nothingfirst novel winning A relatively new phenomenon begins after the newly created Eugenio Nadal award. spanish letters: Jumping to the forefront of a series women novelists Today, some common features can be discovered in his work, developed over more than forty years.” These are the words taken from his book. Martin Gaite Through the window: A feminine approach to Spanish literature (1987) devoted a section to this. Carmen Laforet’s Andrea titled strange girl.
Elena Quiroga, Dolores Medio, Lluïsa ForrelladMartín Gaite himself… They are all women educated according to the dictates of society Women’s Divisionwith house angel As their sole reference, encouraged by Laforet’s victory, they decided to offer themselves to the prize created by Ignacio Agustí. Also Ana María Matute, another famous ServantineHE Won Nadal in 1959 first memory. A journalist asked Matute shortly after receiving the award, “Women have been winning all the novel awards lately. Can you write better?” he asked, and Matute replied: “It seems so.”
In all of them and those that came after, pedigree of great writersSome were mistreated by critics, some were underestimated, forgotten, ignored, rediscovered, vindicated, I thought. On the night of January 6, 2022 inside Palace Hotel in Barcelona. Because thanks to them, I am a writer and thanks to them, I also won the Nadal Award.