2. Acclaimed Spanish novelist MiguelAcclaimed Spanish novelist Miguel
Delibes has died, aged 89.Delibes has died, aged 89.
3.
Miguel Delibes, an acclaimed and prolific novelistMiguel Delibes, an acclaimed and prolific novelist
whose work featured gritty depictions of rural lifewhose work featured gritty depictions of rural life
in post-civil war Spain, has died. He was 89.in post-civil war Spain, has died. He was 89.
Delibes, who had been fighting cancer of the colonDelibes, who had been fighting cancer of the colon
for several years, died at his home in the northfor several years, died at his home in the north
central city of Valladolid, Spanish National Radiocentral city of Valladolid, Spanish National Radio
said, citing his family.said, citing his family.
Speaking on the radio, Education Minister AngelSpeaking on the radio, Education Minister Angel
Gabilondo said, 'We must remember him as aGabilondo said, 'We must remember him as a
good person and a great writer.'good person and a great writer.'
Delibes started off as a cartoonist for a provincialDelibes started off as a cartoonist for a provincial
newspaper before becoming a reporter, editornewspaper before becoming a reporter, editor
and finally a novelist in a career spanning moreand finally a novelist in a career spanning more
than 50 years, culminating in his winning thethan 50 years, culminating in his winning the
Spanish-speaking world's top literary award, theSpanish-speaking world's top literary award, the
Cervantes Prize, in 1993, among otherCervantes Prize, in 1993, among other
accolades.accolades.
4. He was also a member of the Spanish Royal Academy, theHe was also a member of the Spanish Royal Academy, the
official watchdog of the Spanish language.official watchdog of the Spanish language.
'I feel sorry that there was not enough time for him to win the'I feel sorry that there was not enough time for him to win the
Nobel, because he was one of those authors who deservedNobel, because he was one of those authors who deserved
it, said Culture Minister Angeles Gonzalez-Sinde.it, said Culture Minister Angeles Gonzalez-Sinde.
'He was a much-read writer, incredibly prolific and also a'He was a much-read writer, incredibly prolific and also a
great inspiration for other artists,' she said.great inspiration for other artists,' she said.
Delibes hailed from the city of Valladolid in the CastilianDelibes hailed from the city of Valladolid in the Castilian
heartland of central Spain, and his deep roots there and loveheartland of central Spain, and his deep roots there and love
of rural life - he was an avid hunter and wrote often about it -of rural life - he was an avid hunter and wrote often about it -
surfaced repeatedly in his books.surfaced repeatedly in his books.
One of his most popular ones, 'Los Santos Inocentes' (TheOne of his most popular ones, 'Los Santos Inocentes' (The
Innocent Saints), published in 1981, illustrates theInnocent Saints), published in 1981, illustrates the
impoverished existence of peasants living under a selfishimpoverished existence of peasants living under a selfish
and wealthy landowner.and wealthy landowner.
5. In a dramatic scene near the end, a simple-minded peasantIn a dramatic scene near the end, a simple-minded peasant
rigs a trap that hangs the rich man after he shoots therigs a trap that hangs the rich man after he shoots the
peasant's pet bird with a hunting rifle. The book waspeasant's pet bird with a hunting rifle. The book was
made into a movie in 1984 by Spanish director Mariomade into a movie in 1984 by Spanish director Mario
Camus.Camus.
Another of Delibes' most popular works was 'Cinco HorasAnother of Delibes' most popular works was 'Cinco Horas
with Mario' (Five Hours with Mario), published in 1966,with Mario' (Five Hours with Mario), published in 1966,
in which a widow sitting by her husband's coffin musesin which a widow sitting by her husband's coffin muses
over their time together and critiques the beliefs andover their time together and critiques the beliefs and
social mores of provincial life.social mores of provincial life.
Delibes was somewhat of a hermit, shunning limelight andDelibes was somewhat of a hermit, shunning limelight and
crowds.crowds.
'I like open spaces. I like nature, and I also like to converse'I like open spaces. I like nature, and I also like to converse
with my colleagues, face to face, or with two of them,with my colleagues, face to face, or with two of them,
or three, but no more,‘ Delibes said in an interviewor three, but no more,‘ Delibes said in an interview
published in 1986.published in 1986.
In his acceptance speech when he won the CervantesIn his acceptance speech when he won the Cervantes
prize, Delibes looked back on his career and said lifeprize, Delibes looked back on his career and said life
goes by quicker for writers because they spend sogoes by quicker for writers because they spend so
much time inside the heads of their characters,much time inside the heads of their characters,
neglecting their own existence.neglecting their own existence.
6. He noted that the protagonist of one his booksHe noted that the protagonist of one his books
once commented to an older co-worker, agedonce commented to an older co-worker, aged
70, that 'if I were that age I would die of fright.'70, that 'if I were that age I would die of fright.'
'Now I must admit I have that same age,' Delibes'Now I must admit I have that same age,' Delibes
said in the speech. 'How is this possible?'said in the speech. 'How is this possible?'
The Cervantes Institute said Delibes' passion forThe Cervantes Institute said Delibes' passion for
the countryside - and hunting - had given him athe countryside - and hunting - had given him a
true feel for the decline of rural life and thetrue feel for the decline of rural life and the
fragility of the environment.fragility of the environment.
'It is not going too far to say that this hunter who'It is not going too far to say that this hunter who
writes measures his passions with a shotgunwrites measures his passions with a shotgun
resting on his shoulder, and in this he finds joy,resting on his shoulder, and in this he finds joy,
anxieties and even fineness of spirit,' theanxieties and even fineness of spirit,' the
institute said in a biography of Delibes.institute said in a biography of Delibes.
Details of funeral arrangements were notDetails of funeral arrangements were not
immediately available.immediately available.
