Canada's Margaret Atwood wins Spanish Prince of Asturias Prize for literature
26/6/2008 18:06
Canadian writer Margaret Atwood has won the 2008 Prince of Asturias Award
for Letters, the jury said yesterday in Oviedo, northern Spain.
"We decided
to bestow the award on Margaret Atwood for her outstanding literary work that
has explored different genres with acuteness and irony, and because she cleverly
assumes the classic tradition, defends women's dignity and denounces social
unfairness," the jury said.
The poet, novelist and literary critic was born
in 1939 in Ottawa. She received international recognition with her novel "The
Edible Woman" (1969), followed by "Surfacing" (1972-1973), "Lady Oracle" (1977),
"Life Before Man" (1980), "Cat's Eye" (1988) and "The Robber Bride"
(1993).
Atwood is considered to be the greatest living Canadian writer and
one of the most eminent voices in the current scene. She offers in her novels a
politically committed, critical view of the world and contemporary society,
while revealing extraordinary sensitivity in her copious poetic oeuvre, a genre
which she cultivates with great skill. The plot of her novels usually focuses on
the figure of women.
The literature award attracted 32 candidates from 24
countries this year. It is one of the eight that the Prince of Asturias
Foundation gives out yearly since 1981. Other categories include scientific
research, sports, arts and humanities. Each carries a 50,000-euro (US$77,00)
cash stipend, a sculpture by Catalan sculptor Joan Miro, a diploma and an
insignia.
The awards will be presented in a ceremony presided over by the
Prince of Asturias this fall in Oviedo.
Xinhua
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