The world famous Chilean writer has been honored with the “Oscar of the literary world” for her life’s work. In her acceptance speech, Allende criticized the world’s growing nationalism and racism.
Isabell Allende has been honored in the night of Thursday (local time) in New York, the National Book Award for her life’s work. The award is considered the most important literary prize in the United States. In her thank-you speech to the America-Chilean writer, you take up the award on behalf contrary to for “millions of people came as I was in search of a new life in this country.”
Literature as a means of understanding
Isabel Allende 2017 at the launch of her latest book “Más allá del invierno” (“everlasting summer”)
Allende left her homeland shortly after the military coup in Chile in the early 1970s. Since many years she lives and works in the United States. Her works have been translated into 27 different languages.
In her acceptance speech, the 76-Year-old spoke out against the “growing nationalism and racism” in the world, and glorified the literature as a means of understanding: “The values and principles that keep our civilization on life, to be attacked. If we listen to the story of another people, and when we tell our own story, we begin to heal division and hatred.”
The National Book Award is also referred to as the “Oscars of the literary world”. It is awarded in five categories. In the category of fiction Sigrid Nunez received the award for her novel “The Friend”. The poetry prize was awarded to Justin Philip Reed, of the Translation by Margaret Mitsutani for your Transfer by Yoko Tawadas “The Emissary” from the Japanese. In addition, prices for property, plant, and youth books will be awarded.
fs/nf (dpa, nationalbook.org)