Writer Gabriela Cabezón Cámara has been awarded the Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz Literature Prize at the International Book Fair of Guadalajara. The jury unanimously decided to grant her the award for her novel "Las niñas del naranjel", where she rewrites the life of Catalina de Erauso, providing the historical novel with a new imaginative and symbolic strength that narrates the discourses and violences that shaped the New World.
The jury praised Cabezón Cámara's work, stating that it is a living being that renews the certainty of our belonging to something greater. They highlighted how the novel challenges traditional narratives by including a voice that explores the sensuality and hostility of the landscape, the ambitions and fears of the characters, as well as the corruption of bodies without prejudice.
"Las niñas del naranjel" masterfully combines Spanish with Guaraní and the theological baroque of the 17th century, creating a unique language and a particular rhythm. The narrative reveals a new vision of God, embracing the diversity that birthed America and restoring to nature its eroticism without colonizing exoticism.
In this work, Cabezón Cámara rescues marginalized voices through Antonio, a character who escapes the bonfire thanks to his Virgin of the orange grove. "Las niñas del naranjel" is inspired by the historical figure of Catalina de Erauso, the Alférez Nun, and narrates the brutal conquest of America from a contemporary perspective intertwined with the baroque of the 17th century.
The Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz Literature Prize was conceived by Nicaraguan writer Milagros Palma in 1993 to recognize the literary work of women in the Spanish-speaking world. This prestigious award, endowed with ten thousand U.S. dollars, rewards authors of novels originally published in Spanish. The award ceremony will take place during the 38th edition of the International Book Fair of Guadalajara on Wednesday, December 4, at the Juan Rulfo Auditorium.
