A Prize for Writers of Our America

At the intersection that radiates light to the continent, on 3rd and G in Vedado (home of Casa de las Americas), the oldest and most prestigious literary event in the region is being organized

This week more than a hundred books that broaden the list of the texts already in Casa de las Americas should arrive in Havana to compete in the 57th edition of the Literary Award in the categories of story, drama, essay on an artistic-literary topic, Brazilian literature, Caribbean literature in French or Creole and a Studies Prize on indigenous cultures of America.

The opening remarks of the event held on January 18 in the Che Guevara Hall were by Colombian journalist and writer Santiago Gamboa, a member of the jury in the section of story.

Prestigious intellectuals from more than a dozen countries on the continent make up the jury and of the four Cuban specialists two are from Havana: teachers, researchers and translators Josefina Castro Alegret and Mayerín Bello.

The critic, essayist and director of the Centre for Literary Research in Casa de las Americas, Havana, Jorge Fornet Gil spoke to Metropolitan Radio.

̶ What is the distinguishing feature of this edition?

̶ The prize as usual is staying true to tradition while breaking as part of the call in loyalty to a group of genres and categories that have already been settled in the award that is both attractive for writers of the continent who know that in the Casa de las Americas one can find a common space each year to publicize their books.

“Moreover, the Award is effectively adding new features to its program and in this case bringing in an especially relevant figure. He is the former president of Uruguay Jose Mujica, current senator of that country and will also be accompanied by his wife, Senator Lucia Topolansky.

“Mujica was and is a singular protagonist of a historic moment in the continent. On Tuesday January 26 at 19:00 local time in the Che Guevara Hall he will be speaking during the House Literary Award program. It is obvious that he will speak of the Latin American reality and at the same time that reality with the Casa de las Americas, a place that Uruguay has had a special relationship. Two of the deepest friends of the institution, two of the pillars of the Casa are Uruguayan writers -of the few who managed to fill the Che Guevara room are Mario Benedetti and Eduardo Galeano, both well known to the Cuban public. This will be a peculiar attraction of this award in its 57th edition. ”

̶ How was the invitation extended to such a distinguished personality?

̶ It was relatively simple. Roberto Fernandez Retamar, president of Casa de las Americas, sent a letter through our embassy and then wanted the orange blossom that the Conference of the Latin American Council of Social Sciences, CLACSO, which gathers hundreds of social scientists and thousands of continent Scholars also, Jose Mujica was there, in Medellin, Colombia, where it was held.

“In the CLACSO, Casa de las Américas received the Americas prize, which was awarded for the first time and was Mujica which gave the prize to the Casa. The relationship was flowing on to have him among us. ”

̶ How do you do it? Reinventing this award year after year, is it not too risky?

̶ First you have to take a little step away when you are done editing. The Prize is running most of the year, what we see now is the result of months and months of work, go on inviting people -of course not everyone can come- they should be invited again and again, there are some who have to postpone.

” We must rethink what to do, that’s the idea, staying true to tradition while renewing it so that it remains attractive to Latin American writers and also for the public.

” Yes, it’s a difficult task, I don’t know how we do what we are doing but gradually. The Prize fortunately has the Casa behind it, the whole Casa is there, and accordingly without it obviously it could not be done.

“And in turn it is one of those challenges, which is the same Casa, that is, how an institution dedicated to the research and promotion of Latin American and Caribbean culture can survive. Then, it is how to survive in times of change and how to adapt to the changes this society has. ”

̶ Doesn’t the management of the Casa Centre for Literary Research and the organization of the Casa Award interfere with Jorge Fornet as writer and essayist?

̶ Let’s see. In some ways yes, in addition it also benefits me much talking in professional terms.

“A theme of my specialty is the new Latin American narrative and therefore being in direct contact with the Prize with people who participate in it, with people competing is a relatively easy way to keep abreast of what is happening.

“The work of the institution requires me to be fairly precisely informed about everything and get a view of what is happening in the Latin American and Caribbean literature and it also benefits me in the research work itself.”

Jorge Fornet Gil is one of the number of members of the Cuban Academy of Language and is the author of research among which are New paradigms. Narrative prologue to the 21st century, and 71: Anatomy of a crisis, and editor of several texts like Multiple Rating of Ricardo Piglia and Cuban Tale of the twentieth century, among many others,

From the direction of the Casa de las Americas Literary Research Center, Jorge Fornet and a large team have organized the Casa Literary Prize, in the 57th edition from 18 to 28 January.

The intense reading of the texts in competition by the jurors in Cienfuegos. 

On their return to Havana, the authors will conduct discussions and talks on the prospects and challenges of Latin American literature in the 21st century and will attend the presentation of the winning books of the Casa de las Américas Prize 2015.

The ‘Intrepid’ exhibitions, a selection of cartoonists from the Art of Our America Collection, and The worlds of Quino: a tribute, both in the Latin American Gallery are included in the Award program.

Literary Award winners of the 57th Casa Edition will be announced on the 28th at 19:00 local time in the Che Guevara Hall of the institution on Third and G in Vedado.

Translated by ESTI