National Prize for Literature (Spain)

The National Literature Awards are awarded by the Spanish Ministry of Culture in different fields of literature to a work published in Spain. They should not be confused with the National Prize for Spanish Letters, a recognition of the entire literary work of a Spanish writer.

Grouped within the framework of the National Culture Awards, the National Literature Awards are granted in the following modalities:

• National Essay Award
• National Dramatic Literature Award
• National Prize for Child and Youth Literature
• National Narrative Award
• National Poetry Prize
• Poesía Joven Award "Miguel Hernández"

History

By Order of May 25, 1940 of the Ministry of the Interior, the "Francisco Franco" and "José Antonio Primo de Rivera", in parallel to the journalism awards of the same name that had been awarded since 1938. The "Francisco Franco" it would be awarded alternately each year to a history book or to one essay or essays. The "José Antonio Primo de Rivera" it would be awarded with the same alternative sequence to a novel or a book of poetry.

In 1949 and by Order of the Ministry of National Education, the "Miguel de Cervantes" for novel (later including short stories for adults), reserving the "José Antonio" for poetry. Verifying that the "Francisco Franco" had been granted exclusively to political essays, in 1955 and by Order of the Ministry of Information and Tourism the "Menendez Pelayo" for historical essays, reserving the previous denomination exclusively for political essays.

Later, the "Miguel de Unamuno" (essay of a cultural or literary nature), "Calderón de la Barca" (theater) and "Emilia Pardo Bazán" (literary critic) in 1964, "Jacinto Verdaguer" (poetry in the Catalan language) in 1966, "Rosalía de Castro" (poetry in Galician) and "Azorín" (Book on landscapes or lands of Spain) in 1967, and "José María de Iparraguirre" (poetry in the Basque language) in 1968.

In 1976 the awards were announced, withdrawing the different names, leaving only "National Literature Awards" of each type.