It is always necessary to climb the main staircase of the Royal Palace of Madrid alone, with its marble steps and under the gentle supervision of the gala halberdiers, until opting for the right or the left when it forks at the central landing to lead to the column room. Crossing it, and flanking the famous painting by Antonio López The Family of Juan Carlos I, the guests arrive at the traditional lunch in honor of the Cervantes Prize and dedicated to the world of letters.
I went up alone because the two great men of letters that I met at the entrance, the philologist José Manuel Blecua and the novelist José María Merino, a close friend of this year's winner Luis Mateo Díez, have prudently opted for the elevator. I agree with both of them and with the winner above, during the aperitif. Díez, overwhelmed and happy: “The newspapers are giving me attention that I don't deserve,” he says, adding that he has several works on the way out. “I am very prolific, I need several editors.”
Luis Mateo calls Merino by his last name, and José María calls Díez by his first name. Because? “We have done it this way since we were young, although sometimes we change,” they respond.
This year's protagonist is supported by numerous members of the RAE, to which he belongs: director Santiago Muñoz Machado; vice director Carme Riera; Félix de Azúa, Soledad Puértolas, the journalists Luis María Ansón and Juan Luis Cebrián, the recently elected Clara Sánchez. “I look in the mirror with the RAE insignia and I don't recognize myself,” says the novelist. Also the president of the Royal Academy of History, Carmen Iglesias, and the president of the Royal Academy of Good Letters of Barcelona, Borja de Riquer.
The Minister of Culture Ernest Urtasun is satisfied with the boost to the State Public Library in Barcelona, as is the general director of the book, María José Gálvez, who has invested heavily in this project over several years. Jordi Martí, Secretary of State for Culture, appears elegantly with a tie; He told her that it was quite a change from a long-standing habit of casual attire. “Well yesterday, in Alcalá, I put on the tailcoat,” he replies. We see Javier Solana, the mayor of Madrid José Luis Martínez Almeida, and the president of the Community Isabel Díaz Ayuso.
As usual a good group is formed by those who have received National awards corresponding to the year 2023: Pilar Adón (narrative), Antonio Monegal (essay), Luis Zendrera, de Juventud (best editorial work), Carlos Fortea (translation). They also benefited with other recognitions such as the Jovellanos of essay (Begola Quesada), Azorín of novel (Cristina López Barrio) or Tusquets (Silvia Hidalgo). And more writers like Jose Gomez Jurado or Ana Iris Simon.
Among the representatives of the publishing world, Carlos Creuheras from the Planeta group, Pilar Reyes from Penguin Random House, Sandra Ollo from Acantilado and Daniel Fernández from Edhasa, also president of the Royal Board of Trustees of the National Library.
Felipe VI and Mrs. Letizia enter the gala dining room from different sides of the table. In his speech the King glosses “the unstoppable numerical growth of Spanish, with almost 600 million speakers around the world.” He favors it, pointing out “its open nature, with unlimited potential to integrate changes and evolve at the pace that marks social progress. Today we are witnessing the emergence of new spaces for the development of our language, such as those derived from its use in the digital field and, especially, in that of artificial intelligence and current technologies; or the need to guarantee the clarity and accessibility of the language for all citizens.”
And the word “achieves a magnificent expression today in the work of Luis Mateo Díez, in whose imaginary territory of Celama myths, traditions and cultures come together that provoke us to reflect on the human condition.”
“Dear Luis Mateo,” the monarch concludes, “the Cervantes Prize praises your extraordinary literary career, in which all Spanish speakers recognize ourselves. Today we all feel close to your Celama or to the Cities of Shadow, where we meet you. Your immense creative talent does not stop; and today we also congratulate you on your new novel, which adds to your extensive production. I take your own words to affirm that we all rejoice in good things like this,” the King concludes before proceeding to the toast.
And as is customary, in the café circles guests can access and chat informally with the monarchs. Felipe VI gives details of the recent visit to the Netherlands; Mrs. Letizia dedicates special attention to Ángel Marín, author of the heartbreaking best-seller Por si las libros Volver, and Marta D. Riezu, discreet and brilliant author of Agua y soap.
The queen also discusses a topic that frequently concerns her, how to increase reading among young people and improve their attention, with the television presenter and now novelist Gemma Ruiz Palà and colleagues Jordi Amat, Jesús Marchamalo and Jesús García Calero.
Very close by, Sonsoles Ónega addresses Luis Mateo Díaz: “I wanted to congratulate you.” “But, Sonsoles, take away the you from me”…
