June 26, 2008



This June 25, 2008 Canadian feminist writer Margaret Atwood won the Prince of Asturias Award for the Letters. Other 32 nominees form 32 countries were also nominated.

The ward was established since 1981 to be given on a yearly basis by the Government of Spain in the city of Oviedo to individuals or organizations for their renowned achievements in public affairs, communication, sciences, sports and humanities.

She deserves it, I can attest to that. In its document the jury states that as a writer she 鈥渄efends women's dignity and denounces social unfairness...鈥澛犅 The jurors also recognize her 鈥渙utstanding literary work that has explored different genres with acuteness and irony."



She deserves it. I can attest to that. I just read The Penelopiad last week. In it The Oddessy of Homero it turned right side up though the voices in choir of the 12 maids offering their own vision which had not been heard so far. They have a different story for everyone else in the story, of course. ? It is a different story because it is their own as told by them. Whoever heard of maids having a voice?

And the amazing thing is that maids know everybody else鈥檚 untold stories also because they olive and work where the 鈥減rivate: is hidden 鈥 people鈥檚 homes.聽 Maybe that is why they do not have a voice 鈥 so that the private / public divide can remain the myth that it is. If maids spoke, the everyone鈥檚 stories would be different.

No wonder Atwood has said that: 鈥淎 voice is a human gift; it should be cherished and used, to utter fully human speech as possible. Powerlessness and silence go together.鈥 r: 鈥滱 word after a word after a word is power.鈥

Thanks, Margaret Atwood, for reminding us that there are women within the category of women that have less of a voice, but equally relevant to the full picture of the human drama. Thanks to the maids in her Greek choir, for they remind us that not everyone has been heard.

She is 62 with a fourty six year old writing career. Margaret wrote her first poetry book in 1964 followed by 30 more books in non fiction and fiction, translated into an equal amount of languages.

Each winner of the award receives 50,000 Euros, a certificate and a sculpture by Joan Mir贸, an artist from Catalu帽a.

The contest of organized by the Prince of Asturias Foundation. This year鈥檚 jury was comprised of 17 men and 7 women.