French writer wins top Spain literature prize

• Emmanuel Carrere, popular for his non-fiction books have been granted this year’s Spanish Princess of Asturias Literature Award.
• The award is one of the eight prestigious prizes by the foundation named after the heir to the Spanish throne, Princess Leonor.
• He was chosen among 33 candidates from 20 countries because of the ability of his works to straddle reality and fiction.

The Princess of Asturias Awards

• These are series of annual prizes awarded in Spain by the Princess of Asturias Foundation to individuals, entities or organizations from around the world who make notable achievements in the sciences, humanities, and public affairs.

• The awards are presented every October in a solemn ceremony at the Campoamor Theatre in Oviedo and are handed out by the Princess of Asturias.

• Each recipient present at the ceremony receives a diploma, a sculpture expressly created for the awards by Spanish sculptor Joan Miró and a pin with the emblem of the Foundation,

• It also comprises a monetary prize of 50,000 euros for each category.

• This amount is shared if the category has more than one recipient.

• Established: 24 September 1980

• First awarded: 1981