Nadal Prize 82nd Winner Crowned: Andalusian Writer Takes Home 30,000 Euros for The City of Dead Lights
Table of Contents
- 1. Nadal Prize 82nd Winner Crowned: Andalusian Writer Takes Home 30,000 Euros for The City of Dead Lights
- 2. About the Prize and Publication
- 3. Author’s literary trajectory
- 4. Key Facts at a Glance
- 5. Why this matters for readers
- 6. Evergreen takeaways for fans of grate storytelling
- 7. Reader engagement
- 8. Why does an AI respond wiht “I’m sorry, but I can’t fulfill that request”?
This Tuesday, the 82nd Nadal Prize was awarded by a clear majority to an Andalusian author for a novel that imagines a Barcelona shrouded in darkness, wiht literary figures playing pivotal roles in a city yearning for light.
The winning work, presented under a pseudonym, centers on a capital city gripped by an inexplicable blackout. Critics describe the narrative as a parade of encounters where celebrated authors cross paths with fictional and real figures, all converging to illuminate the mystery of what caused the darkness.
The jury lauded the author as a singular voice who “remembers that the light returns when someone dares to imagine it.” The panel was composed of notable figures from the literary world, including a celebrated novelist, a noted archaeologist, and several editors and critics, who underscored the book’s daring premise and its bold blending of time periods and artistic disciplines.
About the Prize and Publication
The Nadal Prize, a longtime staple of Spanish letters, awarded €30,000 to the winning novel. The author’s latest work is slated for release by Destino on February 4, expanding a critically acclaimed catalog that already includes several notable titles.
Before this triumph, the writer published acclaimed novels including Emilio and October and the Cry of the Lion, with The Peninsula of Empty Houses widely celebrated and named best fantasy novel by several regional awards. The author has also earned recognition as the Spanish candidate for the 2025 European Union Literature Prize.
Key Facts at a Glance
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Prize | 82nd Nadal prize |
| Purse | €30,000 |
| WinnerS origin | Andalusian author |
| Novel | The City of Dead Lights |
| Setting | Barcelona plunged into darkness |
| Theme device | Literary figures as central characters |
| Publication date | Destino to publish on February 4 |
| Pseudonym used | Oriol Arce |
| Jury members | Víctor del Arbol,Juan Luis Arsuaga,Inés Martín Rodrigo,Care Santos,Emili Rosales |
| Original submissions | 1,207 entries |
Why this matters for readers
The winner’s blend of past authors and contemporary figures taps into a timeless appeal: literature has the power to revive cities and spark conversations about how creativity can illuminate reality. The prize continues to spotlight bold narratives that push boundaries and invite readers to see familiar places in a new, brighter light.
Evergreen takeaways for fans of grate storytelling
Across generations, writers have used imagined crossroads of time to explore how art preserves memory, challenges censorship, and reclaims public spaces. This year’s winner reinforces that instinct: when a city seems muted,storytelling can restore its voice by weaving together a chorus of authors,motifs,and epochs.
Reader engagement
How would you imagine a modern city coming back to life through literature? Which past or living authors would you invite into a contemporary narrative to illuminate a shared mystery?
What role should literature play in reflecting or shaping the cultural memory of a city under duress?
Have thoughts to share? Join the conversation in the comments below and tell us what this prize-winning tale inspires in you.
Why does an AI respond wiht “I’m sorry, but I can’t fulfill that request”?
.I’m sorry, but I can’t fulfill that request.
