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María de la Almudena Grandes Hernández

マリア・デ・ラ・アルムデナ・グランデス・ヘルナンデス

Maria de la Almudena Grandes Hernandez

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1960-05-07 （Chamartín, Madrid, Spain）
Died
2021-11-27 （Madrid, Spain） age 61
Nationality
Spain
Languages
Spanish
Residence History
Madrid, Spain

Career

Occupations
Writer, Columnist
Active Years
1989-2021
Influenced By
Emilia Pardo Bazán, Benito Pérez Galdós, Homer (Odyssey), Miguel de Cervantes (Don Quixote)

Education

Complutense University of Madrid
Faculty of Geography and History / Department of Geography and History
Country: Spain
After degree, began writing texts for encyclopedias

Awards

La Sonrisa Vertical Award
1989
Work: The Ages of Lulu
Organization: La Sonrisa Vertical
Result: 受賞
Coherence Award
2002
Organization: Unknown
Result: 受賞
Julián Besteiro Award for the Arts and Literature
2002
Organization: UGT
Result: 受賞
Cálamo Award (Best Book of the Year)
2003
Work: The Wind from the East
Organization: Cálamo
Result: 受賞
Crisol Award
2003
Work: The Wind from the East
Organization: Crisol
Result: 受賞
José Manuel Lara Foundation Award
2008
Work: The Frozen Heart
Organization: José Manuel Lara Foundation
Result: 受賞
Madrid Booksellers Guild Award
2008
Work: The Frozen Heart
Organization: Madrid Booksellers Guild
Result: 受賞
Prix Méditerranée
2009
Organization: Prix Méditerranée
Result: 受賞
Premio de la Crítica de Madrid
2010
Work: Inés and Joy
Organization: Premio de la Crítica de Madrid
Result: 受賞
Premio Iberoamericano de Novela Elena Poniatowska
2011
Work: Inés and Joy
Organization: Unknown
Result: 受賞
Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz Award
2011
Work: Inés and Joy
Organization: Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz Award organization
Result: 受賞
Liber Prize
2018
Organization: Liber
Result: 受賞
National Literature Prize for Narrative
2018
Work: The Patients of Doctor García
Organization: Spanish Government
Result: 受賞
Honoris Causa
2020
Organization: National University of Distance Education (UNED)
Result: 授与
Jean-Monnet Prize for European Literature
2020
Work: The Patients of Doctor García
Organization: Jean-Monnet Prize
Result: 受賞
International Journalism Award of the International Press Club
2020
Organization: International Press Club
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

The Ages of Lulu

1989 Fiction, Erotic

An early novel about a young woman's sexual awakening and passionate relationships. It achieved international success and was adapted into a film.

sexual awakeningdesireidentity
Adaptations
  • [Film] The Ages of Lulu / Bigas Luna (1990)
Translations
  • The Ages of Lulu

I'll Call You Friday

1991 Fiction

A novel about love and the complexities of everyday life. Later adapted for film.

lovehuman relationships
Adaptations
  • [Film] I'll Call You Friday / Gerardo Herrero (1996)

The Wind from the East

2002 Fiction

A story about family and memories of the past, set against changes in Spanish society.

memoryfamilysocial change
Adaptations
  • [Film] Los aires difíciles (film) / Azucena Rodríguez
Translations
  • The Wind from the East

The Frozen Heart

2007 Fiction

A major novel tracing 20th-century Spanish history and family secrets, exploring the ties between history and individuals.

historymemoryfamily
Translations
  • The Frozen Heart

Inés and Joy

2010 Fiction, Historical novel

The first of a series depicting episodes of anti-Franco resistance, intertwining political memory and personal lives.

anti-Francopolitical memoryresistance
Translations
  • Inés and Joy

The Patients of Doctor García

2017 Fiction, Historical novel

A novel dealing with the Spanish Civil War and its aftermath. Winner of the 2018 National Literature Prize for Narrative.

civil warcover-upjustice
Translations
  • The Patients of Doctor García

Frankenstein's Mother

2020 Fiction

A novel inspired by the real-life Aurora Rodríguez Carballeira, exploring motherhood and control.

motherhoodcontrolmadness

Bibliography

  • The Ages of Lulu (1989)
  • I'll Call You Friday (1991)
  • Malena Is a Tango Name (1994)
  • Atlas of Human Geography (1998)
  • The Wind from the East (2002)
  • Cardboard Castles (2004)
  • The Frozen Heart (2007)
  • Inés and Joy (2010)
  • The Reader of Jules Verne (2012)
  • The Three Weddings of Manolita (2014)
  • Kisses on the Bread (2015)
  • The Patients of Doctor García (2017)
  • Frankenstein's Mother (2020)
  • Everything Will Get Better (2022)
  • Models of Woman (short stories)
  • Barceló Market (short stories)
  • Passing Seasons (short stories)

Adaptations

  • The Ages of Lulu (film directed by Bigas Luna)
  • I'll Call You Friday (film adaptation)
  • The Wind from the East (film adaptation)

Translations of Works

  • Works translated into more than 20 languages (including English translations such as The Ages of Lulu)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
realismpsychological introspectionpersonal narratives of history
Recurring Motifs
memory and reckoning with the pastfamily and intergenerational tiesstories of the loserseffects of the Spanish Civil War and Franco regime

Health

  • cancer
    2020–2021
    Diagnosed in 2020 and announced in 2021. Affected her activities and led to her death in 2021.

Legacy

Almudena Grandes is regarded as a major writer depicting Spanish society from the late 20th to early 21st century. Her work linking history and personal memory has been widely read and honored with numerous awards.

Museums

  • Municipal Library of Azuqueca de Henares (named after Almudena Grandes) Azuqueca de Henares, Guadalajara, Spain Opened in 2006

Academic Societies

  • National University of Distance Education (UNED)

Archives

  • Related materials held by institutions such as Instituto Cervantes
  • Publisher archives (Tusquets Editores)

In Popular Culture

  • Film adaptations of several works (e.g., The Ages of Lulu)
  • Influential voice in feminist and political discourse

Quotes

  • "One of the most important writers of our time."
    Source: Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez (in tribute) (2021)

Trivia

  • She was a fan of Atlético Madrid.
  • Author of 14 novels and 3 short-story collections; works translated into over 20 languages.
  • Married poet Luis García Montero in 1994; had three children (including one from a previous marriage).