MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Mexican author wins Spanish Language top prize

Mexican writer Carlos Fuentes won the Royal Spanish Language Academy prize for literature for his autobiographical work “En esto creo” (to be launched in English next February as “This I Believe”).

The honour carries a cash prize of 25,000 euros (some $32,000).

The awards panel described the book as "a work in which a long history of literary creation and critical and theoretical reflection unfolds with brilliance." "En esto creo," selected from a list of 16 finalists, takes the form of an alphabetized series of autobiographical vignettes.

The book opens with personal subjects which begin with the letter "A" in Spanish - such as "amistad" (friendship) and "amor" (love) - continues with reflections on beauty, Balzac and Spanish filmmaker Luis Buñuel, moves on to Fuentes' thoughts on cinema and "celos" (jealousy), and ends with his experience of Zurich.

Mr. Fuentes is a much honoured writer who has won Spain's prestigious Cervantes and Prince of Asturias Literature prizes in 1987 and 1994, as well as Mexico's National Literature Award in 1984.

The Spanish Academy award will be presented at the 3rd International Congress of the Spanish Language scheduled to take place in the Argentine city of Rosario from November 17 to 20..

Spain's King Juan Carlos and Queen will be present at the opening ceremony this Wednesday of the Spanish language congress in Rosario.