Dominican Author José Enrique García Honored with Pedro Henríquez Ureña Award

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic – José Enrique García has made history as the first Dominican author to receive the prestigious Pedro Henríquez Ureña International Award, which the Ministry of Culture presented to him in a ceremony this week.

Culture Minister Roberto Ángel Salcedo, who led the event, emphasized the award's profound significance. "With this recognition, the Dominican Republic celebrates one of its highest literary exponents and reaffirms its commitment to promoting humanistic thought and literary creation," Salcedo stated.

The biennial award, which includes a plaque and a $25,000 cash prize, was handed to García by Salcedo and Deputy Minister of Cultural Identity and Citizenship, Pastor de Moya. The ceremony, held at the Aída Cartagena Portalatín room of the Pedro Henríquez Ureña National Library, also featured a video tribute to García's life and work.

García expressed his gratitude, noting that the prize is not merely personal recognition but also "an affirmation of the value of Dominican literature in the Ibero-American cultural universe."

Salcedo further highlighted the enduring legacy of Pedro Henríquez Ureña, whose humanistic ideals continue to inspire generations of writers across the Dominican Republic and Ibero-America.

A Life in Letters

The award jury, chaired by Salcedo, included Pastor de Moya as commissioner, along with Rafael Peralta Romero, director of the National Library; Aquiles Julián Barreras, general director of Books and Reading; Rita Díaz, representing the Dominican Language Academy; and guest writer Reynaldo Paulino Chevalier. Its composition underscored the award's academic, institutional, and pluralistic nature, as established by Decree 770-22, which relaunched the prize in 2023.

A prolific poet, narrator, essayist, and educator, García has forged a distinguished literary and academic career spanning various genres. His work is recognized for its unique voice and deep exploration of existential, social, and cultural themes.

Key titles by García include 'El fabulador,' 'Recodo,' 'Una vez un hombre,' and 'Cuentos menudos.' His accolades include the Siboney Poetry Award (1979), the National Poetry Award (2000), the National Novel Award (2001), and the National Children's Stories Award (2002).

Beyond his creative writing, he has contributed to education through Spanish language textbooks used both domestically and internationally. His critical and teaching roles have fostered dialogue among writers and solidified his influence on Dominican literary thought. As a former director of the Editora Nacional and a university professor, his career reflects a sustained commitment to disseminating knowledge and literary creation.

Through this latest edition, the Ministry of Culture aims to cement the Pedro Henríquez Ureña International Award as a premier recognition within the Ibero-American sphere, celebrating figures who advance the region's cultural and linguistic identity through literature and humanistic thought.