Leonardo Padura: Princess of Asturias Award Winner

King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain will preside over the ceremony at the Campoamor Theater in Oviedo, Friday, representing their daughter Leonor, heir to the throne and Princess of Asturias, who will turn 10 late this month.

Padura is a Cuban novelist and journalist, internationally known by his novels, starring detective Mario Conde. His latest and most successful work is The Man who Loved Dogs, based on a story by Leon Trotsky’s murderer, Ramón Mercader, who lived his last years in Havana.

Francis Ford Coppola was the winner in the category of Arts, while Spanish NBA basket players, Pau and Marc Gasol will bring home the prize in sports. Other laureates include the founder of Wikipedia Jimmy Wales in international cooperation, French economist, Esther Duflo, in social sciences; Spanish philosopher, Emilio Lledó, in communication and humanities; the Hospitable Order of San Juan de Dios in the category of concord and biochemists, Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna won the award in scientific and technical research.

The Prizes were originally named Prince of Asturias until 2014, when Felipe VI was crowned King of Spain, and his heir and first daughter became the Princes of Asturias.  The awards include 50.000 Euros and a sculpture by artist, Joan Miró.