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The writer from Segorbe (Castellón) Rosario Raro has been awarded the Azorín Novel Prize 2025 with her work ‘The Bride of Peace’. The story takes place in 1901 in South Africa, London, Scotland, and India. Its protagonist comes to the conclusion that «there is no better revenge after a betrayal than happiness.»
The competition, promoted by the Alicante Provincial Council and the Planeta publishing house, is endowed with 45,000 euros and was announced this Thursday at a gala held at the Auditorio de la Diputación de Alicante (ADDA).
A total of 643 manuscripts were submitted to the 32nd edition of the competition, from both Spain and abroad, setting a «historical record» compared to the 134 from the previous year, as for the first time, the reception of digital originals was allowed.
According to the author herself, «this novel is a plea for peace, at this moment of an arms race.» It tells the story of how, in order to reunite, two fugitive lovers establish a relationship with a famous journalist, whose career was dedicated to the pursuit of universal peace and the defense of human rights.
One of the protagonists of the work is the British activist and pacifist Emily Hobhouse, «unjustly silenced,» who «tried to stop» any war conflict, including the First World War, as detailed by the author.
Raro specified that this period seemed «very interesting» to her to «rescue» this era that coincides with the turn of the century, as, in addition, «the years that Gandhi spent in South Africa and how the liberation movement of the 150,000 Indians working there began» are not very well known.
«WORK OF SECOND CHANCES»
In the words of the author herself, this is a «work of second chances, in which the protagonists dare to change their skin.» «Scars are the seams of the soul, of memory even, but a scar also means that the pain has ended,» she reflected.
The novel was submitted to the competition under the pseudonym Kintsugi, which, according to Raro, refers to the Japanese art of «embellishing scars» with gold and other precious metals, to create «artistic elements of much greater value.» Hence the title she used: ‘Golden Scars.’
The writer, who also expressed gratitude to the other nine finalists, acknowledged that this Azorín Prize was particularly special to her because, although she was born and is from Segorbe, part of her family is from Rojales (Alicante). «This award means a lot to me. A character in my novel says that tonight life has taken her out to dance, and that’s exactly what happened to me today,» she emphasized.
«Azorín is the great observer of stopped time and who said that curiosity must be maintained. He always spoke of having the right word at the right moment. Tonight, the one I have to repeat and end with is thank you,» she stated after receiving the literary recognition.
Moreover, during a press conference following the gala, she revealed that for 35 years «no one» published her work and that, until now, she had entered over a hundred contests. «That’s why I said that it’s easier to be on the other side,» she added.
ESLAVA: «TRULY ADMIRABLE»
On his part, the writer and jury member Juan Eslava Galán praised Raro’s work and described it as «truly admirable»: «It has been a long time since I read such a good novel. It is very difficult to weave such a dense plot with so much richness without making mistakes.»
Eslava also mentioned the «skill» of the award-winning author in «interweaving the necessary information» in the novel so that the reader «is informed without being unnecessarily burdened.»
A GALA WITH THEATER AND MUSIC
The gala started after 7:00 p.m., with the presence of the ‘president’ of the Generalitat, Carlos Mazón; the Minister of Education and Culture, José Antonio Rovira; the Minister of Innovation, Industry, Commerce, and Tourism, Marián Cano; the President of the Alicante Provincial Council, Toni Pérez; the Mayor of the provincial capital, Luis Barcala, and the Director of Institutional Relations of the Planeta Group, Carlos Creuheras, among others.
Before announcing the winning work, the President of the Provincial Council, Toni Pérez, emphasized that «literature is a sphere of fertile ideas and thoughts that generate feelings.» «Reading is like breathing for many,» he expressed, highlighting the «considerable increase» in readers in Spain and how the Azorín Prize contributes to the «good reading health.»
On his part, the ‘president’ of the Generalitat, Carlos Mazón, stated that «the province and literature are dressed up for the occasion,» and reviewed some of the predecessors who have won this award, «of great warmth and quality.»
«Alicante is at the crucible of literature. This award needs to be cherished and loved a lot,» the head of the Consell pointed out, reiterating the Generalitat’s «commitment» to «correct the historical deficit of cultural investment in the province of Alicante.»
The gala, hosted by the journalist Berta Collado, had the theme ‘When the unexpected becomes unforgettable.’ It featured the participation of a wind quintet from ADDA Symphonic, who performed ‘La vida breve’ by Manuel de Falla and ‘El baile de Luis Alonso’ by Gerónimo Giménez. Additionally, actor Ramón Barea offered a theatrical representation of a dramatic text.
The jury for this edition was composed of the Culture delegate, Juan de Dios Navarro, who acted as president; writers Reyes Calderón, Juan Eslava Galán, and Luz Gabás; Language and Literature professors Esperanza Sempere and Celso Serrano – also a writer -, and the Editorial Planeta director, Belén López. Additionally, Amparo Koninckx, the General Secretary of the Provincial Council, served as secretary without voting rights.
Born in Segorbe in 1971, Rosario Raro holds a Ph.D. in Hispanic Philology and is a professor at the Jaume I University (UJI). She has been awarded literary prizes such as the Short Stories Ciudad de Huelva Prize, XVI Max Aub Story Awards, or the Magda Portal Prize from the Ministry of Women of Peru, among others, and has published books including ‘Volver a Canfranc’ and ‘Prohibida Normandía’. She is also the author of essays, stories, and poems, as well as academic and journalistic articles.
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