Atwood Wins Prince of Asturias Award
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Margaret Atwood has won Spain’s Prince of Asturias Award for Letters, defeating 32 other nominees from 24 countries for the prize, worth $77,750.
The Canadian author was rewarded for producing “outstanding literary work” that explores various genres, “defends the dignity of women, and denounces social injustice,” the jury said in a statement on the Web site of the Prince of Asturias Foundation.
Ms. Atwood, 68, has published more than 25 books of poetry, fiction, and nonfiction in her 30 years of writing. She is best known for her novels, including “The Edible Woman,” “The Handmaid’s Tale,” and “The Robber Bride.” Her novel “The Blind Assassin” won Britain’s Booker Prize in 2000.
Each year, the Asturias Foundation names eight winners from various fields, such as the arts, social sciences, international cooperation, scientific research, literature, and sports.
Ms. Atwood will officially receive her award, which includes a sculpture by Joan Miró, at a ceremony in October chaired by Crown Prince Felipe, for whom the prizes are named.
