The Valencian Society of Writers and Literary Critics (Key) has announced the candidates for the XLII edition of the Valencian Literary Critics’ Awards, spanning poetry, narrative, essay and criticism, and dramatic literary modalities. With a tradition extending over four decades, the awards will recognize outstanding work published during the previous year. The ceremony is scheduled to take place at the Rambleta hall in Valencia during the final two weeks of October.
A total of 24 works make up the nominees for this edition, highlighting a strong presence of authors from the Alicante region. In the Poetry category, Luis Bagué Quílez appears with his latest collection, Since the World Is the World (Viewfinder). In Narrative, Fernando Parra Nogueras is represented with The Five Lives of the Translator Miranda (The Tightrope Walker), while Agustín Pérez Leal presents Empty the World (Preliminary Texts). In Dramatic Literature, Antonio Creams Sign presents Pedro Montalban’s Lament of Jean Nicot (Ñaque). In the Essay and Criticism modality, Pink Square Salinas offers Any Other Place (Descended Versions), Father Reig Cruane presents Don’t Trust Me (Reverse Meaning), and Mariano Sánchez Soler contributes Ultra Long Walk (Editor Rock).
The judges believe the awards should go to the best works published in the just-concluded year. Like most national or regional critics’ prizes, the Valencian Critics’ Awards do not carry a monetary endowment. After the winners are announced, the ceremony details will be confirmed for the Rambleta venue during the final weeks of October.
The jurors are chosen through a three-part division: representatives of cultural institutions, university professors and researchers, and active critics in the press, all rooted in the Valencian Community. Their names remain confidential until the moment of the decision is announced.
Candidate works (listed by modality and in alphabetical order):
– Isabel Alamar: A Biography of the Waves (Olé Books)
– Luis Bagué Quílez: Because the World Is the World (Audience)
– Rafael Camarasa: Minister (Audience)
– Patricia Crespo: Manifesto of Uncertainty (Olé Books)
– Jorge Pérez Cebrián: How Many Nights Does a Mirror Fit (Preliminary Texts)
– Rosa María Vilarroig: Solar Isomer – Innocent (Olé Books)
– María Ángeles Chavarría: A Secret in Sips (La Pajarita Roja)
– Bibiana Collado: Exhausted Mares (Pepitas de Calabaza)
– José Manuel González de la Cuesta: Sofia’s Dilemma (Sargantana)
– Fernando Parra Nogueras: The Five Lives of the Translator Miranda (The Tightrope Walker)
– Agustín Pérez Leal: Empty the World (Preliminary Texts)
– María Jesus Puchalt: No Bison in the Poppy Valleys (Sargantana)
– Andrés Amorós: Things in Life. Guide for the Confused (Fórcola)
– Paco Cerdá: April 14 (Asteroid Books)
– Rosa Cuadrado Salinas: Anywhere Else (Ediciones Menguantes)
– Jesús García Cívico: State of Ignorance (Candaya)
– Pepe Reig Cruañes: Don’t Trust Me (Reverse Meaning)
– Mariano Sánchez Soler: Long Ultra Walk (Roca Editorial)
– Ana Valero: Freedom from Pornography (Athenaica)
– Antonio Arbeloa: Blue Box (Red Bow Tie)
– Antonio Cremades and Pedro Montalbán Kroebel: The Lament of Jean Nicot (Ñaque)
– Paula Llorens: L’abraçada dels cucs (Joker)
– Sergio Serrano: Blackberries (Artezblai)
– Julia Suay: Almudena (Overseas Chamber)