Luis Sepúlveda wins Spring Novel Award in Spain

MADRID.- Chilean writer Luis Sepúlveda was awarded today with the Spring Novel Award for his book "La sombra de lo que fuimos".

The award, which was given by the Spanish editorial Espasa Calpe y Ámbito Cultural of the El Corte Inglés commercial group, comes with 200,000 Euros (some 250,000 dollars).

Now living in the Asturian town of Gijón (in the northern Spain), Luis Sepúlveda (born in Ovalle, Chile, 1949) is one of the most translated writers in the Spanish language, with his novel "El Viejo que leía novelas de amor" (The old man who read love stories) having been published in 60 languages.

Spanish writer José María Beneyto was chosen as a finalist in the XIII edition of the Spring Prize, for his book "Los elementos del mundo".

Spanish author Ana María Matute presided over the judges, which also included Antonio Soler, Ángel Basanta, Ramón Pernas, Ana Rosa Semprún and Miryam Galaz.