Brazilian poet Adélia Prado is the winner of the 2024 edition of the Camões Prize, the most important award for literature in the Portuguese language. The announcement was made on June 26 by the National Library Foundation.
The achievement also marks a special week for the author, considered the greatest living Brazilian poet. Six days ago, Prado received the Machado de Assis Prize, the highest honor from the Brazilian Academy of Letters and one of the most traditional awards in Brazil.
“It was with great joy and emotion that I received a call today from Dalila Rodrigues, the Minister of Culture of Portugal, informing me that I had been awarded the Camões Prize. I was still celebrating receiving the Machado de Assis Prize from the Brazilian Academy of Letters, and now I am doubly happy. I would like to share my joy with all lovers of the Portuguese language, this powerful source of creation,” says the winner in a statement to Agência Brasil.
Born in the city of Divinópolis, in Minas Gerais, Adélia Prado is 88 years old. In addition to being a poet, she has worked as a teacher, philosopher, novelist, and short story writer. Her first poems were published in newspapers from her hometown and in the state capital, Belo Horizonte.
The reading of Prado’s originals impressed poet Carlos Drummond de Andrade (1902–1987), who forwarded them for publication in a book in 1975. Titled Bagagem, the poetry book drew critical attention for its originality and style.
Her 1978 book ‘O Coração Disparado’ won the Jabuti Prize for Literature, awarded by the Brazilian Book Chamber. In 1981, she published Terra de Santa Cruz.
Prado’s intellectual production also includes prose, such as ‘Solte os Cachorros’ (1979) and ‘Cacos para um Vitral’ (1980).
The author, who also wrote for children, addresses themes related to the Catholic faith, including God, family, and the female perspective.
The newest winner of the Camões Prize is preparing a book for release soon, ‘Jardim das Oliveiras’, named in reference to the garden at the foot of the Mount of Olives — the place where, according to Christian tradition, Jesus Christ prayed on the eve of his crucifixion.
The poetess has also adapted to the digital world, so part of her work is available on social media. On Instagram, visitors can hear her talk about her work or simply recite poetry.
The Prize
Established in 1988, the Camões Prize aims to recognize authors of the Portuguese language who, through their entire body of work, have contributed to the enrichment of the literary and cultural heritage of the language. The distinction is named after Luís Vaz de Camões, one of the greatest poets of Portugal.
The winner will receive a prize of 100,000 euros. The amount is funded by the two institutions that organize the Camões Prize: the Ministry of Culture of Portugal and the National Library Foundation, linked to the Ministry of Culture of Brazil.
Among the 36 recipients of the Camões Prize, there are 15 Brazilians, 14 Portuguese authors, three Mozambicans, two Cape Verdeans, one Angolan, and one Luso-Angolan.
Source: Agência Brasil