“My writing is always a testimony to what surrounds me and carries a strong ethical thread,” said Elvira Cambrils of Pego, born in 1955, after receiving the Premi Enric Valor for a Valencian-language novel Argila and lime. The work wins a generous prize of twenty thousand euros and tells a story convened by the Alicante State Assembly. It follows a young immigrant who leaves Africa to chase a dream in Europe and a seasoned feminist writer who writes in Valencian, the narrator. Both lives unfold in Marina Alta and together, as the novel’s title suggests, endure as a remarkably lasting material.
Cambrils’s sixth novel took four long years to reach a definite endpoint. “The journey of the young refugee has an epic air, yet it is also a lyrical exploration in the voice of a writer who reflects postwar sensitivities, and it was challenging to balance two colors,” she notes. Cambrils, a novelist who has lived through different eras, often speaks of the ethical dimension deeply embedded in her stories. “I write because it brings joy, but I also do it to reveal how I see the world and how I believe it could change.”
common grave of the mediterranean
In this frame, the lead character is Amina, a young African immigrant. The choice highlights “that great common grave that is the Mediterranean”—the peril many migrants face upon arrival in Europe, where their humanity is too often reduced to a statistic or a headline. When their stories are named, they gain weight and dignity, moving beyond numbers to names and specific days.
For the other principal figure, the author is drawn to the letter “E”—a nod to Valencian writers who have been overlooked. Cambrils emphasizes how female authors have been marginalized by both literary traditions and male critics. “Patriarchal literature pushed women to the margins, which is why I wanted to validate the voices of women who commit themselves to literature.”
prize delivery
The Enric Valor prize, in its latest edition, is awarded to Elvira Cambrils in Castalla, an event described as a dignified recognition of Valencian writers. The organizer underscored that the award should be presented in Castalla, honoring the tradition and status of Valencian culture. The decision in favor of Cambrils reflects a broader aim to celebrate Valencian literature at the highest level and to ensure the prize continues to be a beacon for regional authors.
The previous year’s laureate contributed to the ceremony, inviting the audience to view the prize as a meaningful acknowledgment of Valencian writers. Cambrils herself expressed a strong desire for the award to be associated with Castalla, seeing it as a validation of the writers who shape this literary tradition. She also indicated that such recognitions bring important reflection to Valencian writers and the broader literary community.
For Cambrils, prizes are more than medals; they are visibility and a prompt to consider how literature can influence thought and culture. They offer an occasion to reflect on the value of Valencian writers and the role of literature in social discourse. The organizers affirmed the high quality of the fourteen works submitted in the edition and reiterated a commitment to continued investment in Valencian culture and novels.