Juan Villoro wins the José Donoso Prize

The Mexican writer Juan Villoro has been honored for his long and versatile writing career with the Ibero-American Literature award, the José Donoso Prize 2012. The award has been given since 2001 by the University of Talca (Santiago de Chile) in memory of Chilean author José Donoso. 

Villoro was chosen unanimously by the six jurors, who praised the diversity of genres that the author of El Testigo (The Witness) has tackled over the course of his literary career, his "deft handling of language" and his contribution to Latin American literature.

Author of novels such as  Lacasapierde, published this year, children's literature such as El profesor Zíper y la fabulosa guitarra eléctrica and El libro salvaje, literary essays and sports commentary, film and music reviews, Villoro ( Mexico, 1956) said he was surprised and "grateful" for the award.

"They say that when someone won’t accept an award, it’s because he wants two. I’m very grateful. I see it as a stimulus and I think the best way to look at it is to realise that awards aren’t going to do any writing for you, they don’t guarantee immortality, but are merely stimuli to keep you going on taking risks", said the writer when phoned by the jury, meeting in Santiago.

REMEMBERING DONOSO

Villoro said he was "proud" to be associated with the figure of the Chilean writer José Donoso (1924-1996), whom he met in Mexico. Viloro underlined his sense of humor and his contribution as a novelist to the boom in Latin American literature in the 60s and 70s. "With Carlos Fuentes, who died recently, we often used to remember Donoso. He was a very significant figure for me and also, from a personal point of view, he was always very friendly," said the prize-winning writer.

The President of the jury, Pedro Luis Barcia, who is president of the Academia Argentina de Letras, highlighted "the witty and sharp language" in Villoro's work and his "novel treatment" of Mexican history and identity . "Beyond clichés and exoticisms, with witty and sharp language, he describes a universe populated by characters burdened by uncertainty and loneliness," said Barcia.

VOLPI, ALLENDE and MARÍAS

Villoro joins the roll of honor that includes Ibero-American writers such as fellow Mexican Jorge Volpi, the Chilean Isabel Allende and Spaniard Javier Marias, who have all received the José Donoso Prize. The award, which includes a medal, a diploma and 24,000 euros, will be presented during the International Book Fair of Santiago, between 25 October and 11 November in Santiago.

(Source: el periodico.com)