Premio Planeta Announced Amidst Controversy

Awards & Recognitions

-- Críticas, 11/15/2005

Maria de la Pau Janer was awarded Planeta's 54th annual Premio de Novela, Spain's most lucrative literary prize (the winner receives approx. $750,000 and a print run of 215,000 copies). Janer, a semi-finalist for the prize in 2002, took this year's award with the novel Pasiones romanas (Roman Passions), about a lawyer who, at the airport on his way home, remembers an old lover and decides to look for her, changing his life and destiny. Established in 1952, Planeta's prize promotes Spanish-language authors by publicizing and distributing their books at the highest possible level. The coveted prize, which has previously been tainted by rumors of malfeasance, is once again surrounded by controversy. Spanish author Juan Marsé renounced his position as a judge after denouncing the poor quality of the works submitted, declaring his desire to maintain his literary integrity. This year, Peruvian novelist and TV personality Jaime Bayly took the second place, receiving close to $180,000 and an initial print run of 90,000 copies. His novel, Y de repente, un ángel (And Suddenly, an Angel) explores the unusual relationship between a wealthy, educated man and his poor, illiterate housecleaner. Previous Premio Planeta winners include Lucía Etxebarria (Un milagro en equilibrio, 2004), Antonio Skármeta (El baile de la victoria, 2003), and Alfredo Bryce Echenique (El huerto de mi amada [My Lover's Orchard], 2002).