Miguel Dalmau Wins 76th Café Gijón Novel Prize for 'La reina de Cuba'
Miguel Dalmau has been awarded the 76th Premio de Novela Café Gijón for his book La reina de Cuba, as announced by a jury that included Pilar Adón and Mercedes Monmany. This €20,000 accolade celebrates a narrative that delves into a complex character through a son’s recollections of his ailing mother, reflecting on her childhood in 1940s Cuba and her challenges. Transitioning from medical studies to literature, Dalmau has written multiple novels and biographies. Upon receiving the award, he described himself as a 'literato,' highlighting the significance of dedication to literature. Since its inception in 1949, the Premio Café Gijón has recognized numerous distinguished authors. La reina de Cuba will be published by Ediciones Siruela in January 2024.
Key facts
- Miguel Dalmau won the 76th Premio de Novela Café Gijón for his novel La reina de Cuba.
- The prize is convened by the Ayuntamiento de Gijón and is worth 20,000 euros.
- The jury included Pilar Adón, Ricardo Menéndez Salmón, Gioconda Belli, Marcos Giralt Torrente, and Mercedes Monmany as president, with María José Fernández González as secretary.
- The novel is described by the jury as a reconstruction of a complex character rather than a canonical biography.
- The plot follows a son who, after his mother's death, reconstructs her life through stories of her Cuban childhood in the 1940s and her later life in post-war Spain.
- Dalmau's previous works include La grieta (1998), El reloj de Hitler, La noche del diablo (2009), ¡Quiero vivir en América! (2020), and Las cenizas de Berta (2025).
- He has written biographies of the Goytisolo brothers, Oscar Wilde, Jaime Gil de Biedma, Julio Cortázar, and Pasolini, as well as the essay El ocaso del pudor.
- The Premio Café Gijón was founded in 1949 by Fernando Fernán-Gómez; Ediciones Siruela will publish La reina de Cuba in January.
Entities
Artists
- Miguel Dalmau
- Pilar Adón
- Ricardo Menéndez Salmón
- Gioconda Belli
- Marcos Giralt Torrente
- Mercedes Monmany
- María José Fernández González
- Fernando Fernán-Gómez
- César González-Ruano
- Ana María Matute
- Carmen Martín Gaite
- Luis Mateo Díez
- José Antonio Garriga Vela
- Martín Casariego
- Jesús Ferrero
- José Morella
- Antonio Fontana
- Alexis Ravelo
- Ana Rodríguez Fischer
- María Fasce
- Marc Colell
- Oscar Wilde
- Jaime Gil de Biedma
- Julio Cortázar
- Pier Paolo Pasolini
Institutions
- Ayuntamiento de Gijón
- Premio de Novela Café Gijón
- Premio de Novela Breve Juan March Cencillo
- Premio Internacional de Novela Ciudad de Barbastro
- Premio Anagrama de Ensayo
- Premio Comillas de Historia, Biografía y Memorias
- Ediciones Siruela
- Café Gijón
- Premio Café Gijón
Locations
- Cuba
- Gijón
- Spain
- Madrid
- Antillas
- Antilles