Spanish poet Luis Alberto de Cuenca (born in Madrid in 1955) has been named the winner of the XXXII Reina Sofía Ibero-American Poetry Prize, jointly organized by the University of Salamanca and National Heritage since 1992. It is considered the most prestigious award in the field of Spanish and Portuguese poetry.
The jury has highlighted the quality of his lyrical work, characterized by «a deep literary erudition and a style that moves between philosophical reflection, exploration of classical culture, and personal introspection.»
According to the University of Salamanca’s rector, Juan Manuel Corchado, Cuenca’s work reflects a profound reflection on the human condition, history, and collective memory. His poetry stands out for «expressive clarity, irony, and the ability to convey emotion through a seemingly simple language, but rich in nuances.»
National Heritage manager María Dolores Menéndez emphasized that Luis Alberto de Cuenca’s work is distinguished by «its clear and precise style, with a critical view of literary tradition and a tone that is often ironic or melancholic.»
Poet and director of the Cervantes Institute, Luis García Montero, highlighted how Cuenca’s poetry builds its verses from cultural references spanning from Greco-Roman mythology to contemporary popular culture. This allows him to create a bridge between the ancient and the modern, the classical culture and contemporary tradition,» as explained in the press conference following the jury meeting.
Additionally, García Montero praised the «simplicity of his language» in Cuenca’s poetry. He noted that Cuenca has been the author of some musical hits from the 80s and 90s, including songs for Loquillo and the Orquesta Mondragón.
CAREER HIGHLIGHT
Luis Alberto de Cuenca, upon learning of the jury’s decision of which he has been a member for several years, expressed «enormous joy, both for being the culmination of his career as a poet and for his admiration for Queen Sofía,» as stated by the USAL in a press release quoted by Europa Press.
Luis Alberto de Cuenca’s literary production spans various genres, including poetry, essays, and children’s literature, but he has been particularly recognized for his contribution to contemporary poetic landscape. Among other accolades, he received the National Criticism Prize in 1985 for «La caja de plata»; in 1989, the National Translation Prize for ‘El cantar de Valtario’; in 2008, the Teresa de Ávila National Literature Prize; in 2015, the National Literature Prize (Poetry category) for ‘Cuaderno de vacaciones’; in 2021, he won the Federico García Lorca International Poetry Prize; and in 2023, the Jaime Gil de Biedma Poetry Prize for ‘El secreto del mago’.
Furthermore, he is known for his work focused on the translation and critique of Western literature. He has translated texts in classical languages and included works by authors such as Homer, Euripides, and Gérard de Nerval.
The jury for the XXXIV edition of the Reina Sofía Prize was composed of the University of Salamanca’s rector, Juan Manuel Corchado; the director of the Cervantes Institute, Luis García Montero; the director of the National Library of Spain, Óscar Arroyo; the previous edition’s awardee, Piedad Bonnett; Mexican writer Jorge Luis Volpi; poet Raquel Lanseros; two representatives from the Department of Spanish and Latin American Literature at the University of Salamanca, M.ª Isabel Toro Pascua and María Sánchez Pérez; the former dean of the Faculty of Philology at USAL and retired professor, Román Álvarez Rodríguez; the professor of Hispanic American Literature at the University of Alicante, Carmen Alemany Bay; and María Ángeles Recio, jury secretary.
Following the jury’s decision and the announcement of the winning candidate, the auditorium of the Galería de las Colecciones Reales hosted for the second consecutive year the poetic evening ‘En la voz de sus autores,’ which marked its XXXVI edition.
This tribute to the previous prize winner, poet Piedad Bonnett, was coordinated by Francisca Noguerol, professor of Spanish and Latin American Literature at the University of Salamanca. It featured the participation of the Colombian writer herself and poets Luis García Montero, director of the Cervantes Institute, and Juan Antonio González Iglesias, professor of Latin Philology at the University of Salamanca and the latest recipient of the Castilla y León Letters Award.
The Reina Sofía Ibero-American Poetry Prize aims to recognize the body of work of a living author that, due to its literary value, constitutes a significant contribution to the common cultural heritage of Spain and Ibero-America. This award has become the most prestigious in the field of Spanish and Portuguese poetry.
A PRIZE OF 42,100 EUROS
In addition to the monetary award of 42,100 euros, the prize includes the publication of an anthology of poems, academic conferences on the awardee, and the study of their work by a prominent literature professor at the University of Salamanca.
Luis Alberto de Cuenca joins the long list of poets recognized with this award since its inception in 1992: Gonzalo Rojas (Chile), Claudio Rodríguez (Spain), Joâo Cabral de Melo Neto (Brazil), José Hierro (Spain), Ángel González (Spain), Álvaro Mutis (Colombia), José Ángel Valente (Spain), Mario Benedetti (Uruguay), Pere Gimferrer (Spain), Nicanor Parra (Chile), José Antonio Muñoz Rojas (Spain), Sophia de Mello Breyner (Portugal), José Manuel Caballero Bonald (Spain), Juan Gelman (Argentina), Antonio Gamoneda (Spain), Blanca Varela (Peru), Pablo García Baena (Spain), José Emilio Pacheco (Mexico), Francisco Brines (Spain), Fina García Marruz (Cuba), Ernesto Cardenal (Nicaragua), Nuno Júdice (Portugal), María Victoria Atencia (Spain), Ida Vitale (Uruguay), Antonio Colinas (Spain), Claribel Alegría (Nicaragua), Rafael Cadenas (Venezuela), Joan Margarit (Spain), Raúl Zurita (Chile), Ana Luisa Amaral (Portugal), Olvido Valdés (Spain), Gioconda Belli (Nicaragua), and Piedad Bonnett (Colombia).