Maximo Pradera, a Spanish writer and screenwriter, has taken to social media to express his criticism of the Planeta Prize, which was recently awarded to Juan del Val for his novel “Vera, a Love Story.” Pradera”s comments come against a backdrop of skepticism regarding the transparency of the award process.
In his posts, Pradera recalled past controversies, including the case of Fernando Schwartz, who was a finalist for the same prize in 1982 with “The Gulf Conspiracy” and subsequently won it in 1996 with “The Disencounter.” He emphasized how commercial interests often overshadow the true value of such literary recognitions.
In a follow-up message, Pradera elaborated on the anecdote, noting that the following year, Juan Manuel de Prada earned double the amount with his work “The Tempest.” He suggested that the parallels between these cases and that of Juan del Val highlight a recurring trend in which the prize”s significance is often linked more to commercial gain than to literary merit.
Responses to Pradera”s remarks have been varied, with some users on social media echoing his concerns about the award”s integrity, underscoring the ongoing debate surrounding the legitimacy of literary prizes in the contemporary landscape.
