Javier Cercas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Javier Cercas
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Cercas in 2019
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| Born |
Javier Cercas Mena
6 April 1962 Ibahernando, Spain
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| Nationality | Spanish |
| Alma mater | University of Girona |
| Occupation | Professor, writer |
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Notable work
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Soldiers of Salamis; The Speed of Light; The Impostor |
| Awards | Independent Foreign Fiction Prize; European Book Prize |
| Seat R of the Real Academia Española | |
| Assumed office 24 November 2024 |
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| Preceded by | Javier Marías |
Javier Cercas Mena (born in 1962) is a famous Spanish writer. He is also a professor of Spanish literature at the University of Girona in Spain. Javier Cercas has won many awards for his books. These include the Independent Foreign Fiction Prize for his novel Soldiers of Salamis. He also won the European Book Prize for his book The Impostor.
Contents
Who is Javier Cercas?
Javier Cercas was born in Ibahernando, a town in Cáceres, Spain. He often writes for the Catalan version of the newspaper El País. He also contributes to its Sunday magazine. For two years, he worked at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in the United States.
Writing About History
Javier Cercas is part of a group of Spanish writers. They write "historical memory" fiction. This means their stories are about important times in Spanish history. They often focus on the Spanish Civil War and the time after it. These books help readers understand the past.
Award-Winning Books
Javier Cercas is known for his powerful stories. His books have been translated into many languages. They have also won important awards.
Soldiers of Salamis
His book Soldiers of Salamis is one of his most famous. It was translated into English by Anne McLean. In 2004, this book won the Independent Foreign Fiction Prize. This award celebrates great books from around the world.
The Impostor and Other Works
Anne McLean also translated his books The Speed of Light and Outlaws. These books were considered for the International Dublin Literary Award. This is another big award for books. In 2016, Javier Cercas won the European Book Prize for his novel The Impostor.
Teaching and Recognition
Javier Cercas has also shared his knowledge with students. During the 2014–15 school year, he was a visiting professor. He taught at St Anne's College at Oxford University in England. Since November 2024, he has been a member of the Real Academia Española. This is a very important group that looks after the Spanish language.
See also
In Spanish: Javier Cercas para niños
