Javier Marías died this Sunday at the age of 70 in a Madrid hospital following complications related to a long-standing lung condition, according to information confirmed by his publisher and editorial sources. The news marks the end of a prolific career that positioned him as one of the most respected figures in contemporary Spanish literature. (EFE)
Earlier in August, Alfaguara publishing house announced that the Madrid-born writer and academician was dealing with a serious illness while in the process of recovery. The family and colleagues requested understanding as Marías faced health challenges that lay ahead. (EFE)
In a statement, the publisher conveyed concern for the author, noting that he had a lung condition that was previously in the process of recovery, and wishing him a swift return to health. The remarks reflected the careful approach the literary world often takes when an esteemed figure faces health issues. (EFE)
Marías held the prestigious R Chair of the Royal Spanish Academy since 2008, a position that reflected his stature within Spanish letters. He was the son of the philosopher Julián Marías, who also held a place of distinction in the academy. (EFE)
Often listed among Nobel Prize nominees, Marías was celebrated not only as a novelist but also as an essayist and short-story writer. His body of work has earned him consistent recognition as one of the most accomplished voices in recent decades within the Spanish-speaking world. (EFE)
Over more than five decades of professional work, Marías received numerous accolades across Spain and beyond. Among his recognitions, he was awarded the José Donoso Prize in 2008 for his lifetime achievement by literary organizations in various European countries, including the University of Talca in Chile. (EFE)
Javier Marías wrote fifteen novels, with titles that have left an enduring mark on contemporary literature. Works such as Emotional Man, which earned the Ennio Flaiano Award, All Souls, which received the City of Barcelona Award, and His Heart Is So White, recognized with the Critics Award, the IMPAC Dublin Literary Award, and the Prix l’Oeil et la Lettre, exemplify his range and impact. (EFE)
Other notable novels include Think of Me When Tomorrow War Begins, which won the Romulo Gallegos Award, the Prix Femina Etranger, the Mondello Award, and the Fastenrath Award; Island of Berta, which garnered the Critics Award and multiple other recognitions; and Thomas Nevison, among others. His last book appeared in March, continuing a pattern of prolific publishing. (EFE)
Last December, Marías was named an International Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, joining a roster of distinguished authors who contribute to the promotion of English-language literature. The fellowship includes writers such as David Grossman, Annie Ernaux, Amin Maalouf, and Olga Tokarczuk, among others. (EFE)
His works have been translated into forty-six languages and published in fifty-nine countries, with total sales approaching nine million copies. This international reach underscored his status as a global literary figure whose influence extended far beyond Spanish-language audiences. (EFE)
Marías earned a degree in Philosophy and Literature from the Complutense University of Madrid, with studies centered on English philology. He taught at esteemed institutions including Oxford University in the United Kingdom and Wellesley College in the United States, where he served as a professor of Spanish literature and a translator-theory lecturer at the Institute of Modern Languages and Translators within the Complutense system. His scholarly work and teaching contributed to cross-cultural understanding and the study of translation as a vital field. (EFE)
In addition to his original writings, Marías translated major Anglo-Saxon authors, bringing works by Thomas Hardy, Joseph Conrad, Laurence Sterne, Yeats, Robert Louis Stevenson, and Thomas Browne to Spanish-speaking readers. His translations helped shape how classic and contemporary English-language literature is perceived in the Spanish-speaking world. (EFE)
In recent years, Marías has remained relatively private in public appearances and interviews, though his literary output continued. He continued to publish books and contribute essays and articles to newspapers, maintaining a presence that reminded readers of his enduring influence on literary discourse. (EFE)