Carme Riera to occupy the 'n' chair of the Spanish Royal Academy

Carme Riera, acclaimed writer and UAB professor from the Department of Spanish Studies will be awarded the 'n' chair of the Spanish Royal Academy in a ceremony which will take place on 7 November at 7 pm, at the conference hall of the academy headquarters in Madrid (Calle Ruiz de Alarcón).

05/11/2013

As is tradition, Carme Riera will give an acceptance speech entitled "Sobre un lugar parecido a la felicidad", and will later be followed by a speech by another member of the Royal Academy, Pere Gimferrer.

With this incorporation, Carme Riera is the third person from the UAB currently to form part of the academy; other members include professors from the Department of Spanish Studies Francisco Rico and José Manuel Blecua (current director of the academy). Dr Riera is the eighth woman to be awarded an academy chair.

Carme Riera is an expert in the Spanish Golden Age and a renowned Catalan novelist. She has received several awards, such as the Prudenci Bertrana, Ramon Llull, Josep Pla, Lletra d'Or, Joan Crexells, the Association of Catalan Language Writers Award and the Spanish National Narrative Award. In 2001, the Catalan Government awarded Dr Riera the National Award for Literature, and in 2003, she was awarded the Saint George Award for her novel Half the Soul. She also received the highest civil distinction from the Catalan Government in 2000, the Cross of Saint George, and in 2005 the Golden Medal from the Council of Mallorca.