Spanish author Miguel Delibes dies at 89

Mar 12, 2010, 10:40 GMT

Valladolid, Spain - Miguel Delibes, regarded as one of Spain's most important 20th century writers, died Friday in the northern city of Valladolid, his family said. Delibes was 89.

The author had suffered from colon cancer which practically ended his literary career around 12 years ago.

Delibes was regarded as one of the writers who best understood the Spanish soul, language and landscape.

In his works, he realistically portrayed characters living in his home region of Castile, seeking a harmony between man and nature.

One of the eight children of a Valladolid teacher, Delibes taught mercantile law. He also worked in banking before becoming a journalist, a career that encouraged his literary vocation.

The father of seven children published about 70 books including novels, short stories, essays, collections of articles and travel chronicles. His works were often adapted for the cinema and theatre.

A member of the Royal Spanish Language Academy since 1975, the 'eternal Nobel candidate' won numerous awards including Spain's National Literature Prize in 1955 and the Cervantes Prize - the most important Spanish literature award - in 1993.

Works translated into English include The Path (English edition in 1961), Smoke on the Ground (1972), The Hedge (1983), The Prince Dethroned (1986), Five Hours with Mario (1988), The Stuff of Heroes (1990), The Wars of Our Ancestors (1992) and Delibes' last novel, The Heretic (2007).