European Book Prize
1 appearances
-
Edition 17 (2016) Winner
Javier Cercas Mena
ハビエル・セルカス・メナ
Javier Cercas Mena
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1962-04-06 （Ibahernando, Cáceres, Spain）
- Nationality
- Spain
- Languages
- Spanish, Catalan
- Residence History
- Ibahernando, Cáceres, Spain (birthplace) → Girona, Spain (University of Girona) → Urbana–Champaign, Illinois, USA (University of Illinois) → Oxford, England (visiting appointment)
Career
- Occupations
- writer, professor
- Active Years
- 1987-2025
- Affiliations
- University of Girona, Real Academia Española (Royal Spanish Academy), St Anne's College, Oxford (visiting)
- Memberships
- Real Academia Española
- Influenced By
- Writers dealing with Franco-era and contemporary Spanish history
- Influenced
- Contemporary Spanish novelists and writers of historical-memory fiction
- Nominations
- Anne McLean translation of The Speed of Light — International Dublin Literary Award shortlist (2008), Anne McLean translation of Outlaws — International Dublin Literary Award shortlist (2016)
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Girona | — | — | — | — | Spain |
University of Girona
Country:
Spain
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Independent Foreign Fiction Prize | Soldiers of Salamis | — | The Independent (organiser) | 受賞 |
| 2016 | European Book Prize | The Impostor | — | European Book Prize (organisers) | 受賞 |
| 2024 | Elected to the Real Academia Española | — | — | Real Academia Española | 受選 |
Independent Foreign Fiction Prize
2004
Work:
Soldiers of Salamis
Organization:
The Independent (organiser)
Result:
受賞
European Book Prize
2016
Work:
The Impostor
Organization:
European Book Prize (organisers)
Result:
受賞
Elected to the Real Academia Española
2024
Organization:
Real Academia Española
Result:
受選
Awards & Nominations
Premio Planeta de Novela (Planeta Novel Prize)
1 appearances
-
Edition 68 (2019) Winner
Dagger for Crime Fiction in Translation
1 appearances
-
Edition 18 (2023) Winner
Works
Major Works
Soldiers of Salamis
2001 Novel (historical memory; blends fiction and non-fiction)A narrative that examines the Spanish Civil War and collective memory, interweaving fact and fiction to explore individual and historical relationships.
memory of the Civil Warboundary between truth and fictionresponsibility and confession
Translations
- English translation by Anne McLean
The Speed of Light
2005 NovelA novel about personal history, memory and friendship, depicting the harshness and redemption found in recollection.
memoryfriendshiptime
Translations
- English translation by Anne McLean
The Anatomy of a Moment
2009 Non-fiction / EssayA non-fiction analysis of a pivotal moment in contemporary Spanish history, examining politics and individual actions.
politicsmemoryreexamination of history
Translations
- English translation by Anne McLean
The Impostor
2014 Novel (elements of reportage)Through a case of imposture, the book questions truth, narrative and public memory.
identitytruth vs fictionpublic memory
Translations
- English translation by Frank Wynne
Outlaws (Las leyes de la frontera)
2012 NovelA story about youth and marginal society, portraying the struggles of those living on the fringes.
marginalizationyouthsocial memory
Translations
- English translation by Anne McLean
Bibliography
- 1987, El móvil
- 1989, El inquilino (The Tenant and the Motive, English translation 2005)
- 1994, La obra literaria de Gonzalo Suárez
- 1997, El vientre de la ballena
- 1998, Una buena temporada
- 2000, Relatos reales
- 2001, Soldados de Salamina (Soldiers of Salamis)
- 2005, La velocidad de la luz (The Speed of Light)
- 2009, Anatomía de un instante (The Anatomy of a Moment)
- 2012, Las leyes de la frontera (published as Outlaws)
- 2014, El Impostor (The Impostor)
- 2017, El monarca de las sombras (Lord of All the Dead)
- 2018, The Blind Spot (English edition)
- 2019, Even the Darkest Night (Terra Alta I)
- 2021, Independencia (Terra Alta II)
- 2022, El castillo de Barbazul (Terra Alta III)
- 2025, El loco de Dios en el fin del mundo
Translations of Works
- Soldiers of Salamis — English translation by Anne McLean
- The Speed of Light — English translation by Anne McLean
- The Impostor — English translation by Frank Wynne
- Outlaws — English translation by Anne McLean
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- metafictional style blending fiction and non-fictionclear, reportage- or essay-like narrative elements
- Recurring Motifs
- memory of the Spanish Civil War and Francoist Spainintersection of personal memory and public historyuncertainty between truth and narrative
Legacy
Javier Cercas is an important contemporary Spanish writer, recognized for fiction that engages with memory and history. He has won multiple international awards and influenced both scholarly and public discussions.
Academic Societies
- Real Academia Española
Trivia
- Won the Independent Foreign Fiction Prize in 2004 for Soldiers of Salamis.
- Won the European Book Prize in 2016 for The Impostor.
- Elected to Seat R of the Real Academia Española in 2024.