The writer Almudena Grandes dies in Madrid at the age of 61

The Spanish writer Almudena Grandes died this Saturday in Madrid at the age of 61, as a result of a cancer that was detected in September of last year, they confirmed to Efe sources from the Tusquets publishing house.

Born in Madrid in 1960, Grandes is considered one of the most relevant writers of recent generations, National Narrative Award in 2018 in Spain for “The patients of Dr. García” and Elena Poniatowska Ibero-American Novel Award of Mexico City in 2011 by “Ines and joy”, among other distinctions.

Almudena Grandes She was the wife of the poet Luis García Montero, director of the Instituto Cervantes.

The President of the Spanish Government, the Socialist Pedro Sanchez, posted on Twitter that Spanish literature loses “one of the leading writers of our time.”

“Committed and brave, what has narrated our recent history from a progressive perspective. Your memory, your work, will always be with us, Almudena Grandes. A hug to his family and loved ones ”, he added.

A fighter writer committed to feminism and the political struggle of the left, the Madrid-born author is also considered one of the most consolidated Spanish narrators and with greater international projection.

His first big hit was “The ages of Lulu”, which he published in 1989, and with “Malena is a tango name” her consecration as a writer arrived, two of her works taken to the cinema.

Graduated in Geography and History, the author of novels, short stories and journalistic articles obtained the XI Vertical Smile Award for “The ages of Lulú”, published with the Spanish publisher Tusquets, with which he has worked since then.

“Atlas of human geography” (1998), “Rough Winds” (2002), “Cardboard castles” (2004) the “The frozen heart” (2007) are titles of other great works by Almudena Grandes, who, a great passionate about the Spanish writer Benito Pérez Galdós, decided in 2010 to publish “Ines and joy”, the first title in the series “Episodes of an endless war”, which earned him numerous prizes and which he has not finally been able to conclude.

Also a regular contributor to newspapers and the media in Spain, on October 10 announced in his regular column in the Spanish newspaper El País suffering from cancer, diagnosed in September of last year and which has finally been the cause of his death, this Saturday, at his home in Madrid.