The Barcelona author Antonio Monegal has been awarded the 2023 National Essay Prize, for his work “Por el aire que respiramos: el sentido de la cultura” (Acantilado, 2022).

The prize, awarded by the Ministry of Culture and Sports of Spain, is worth 30,000 euros.

The jury highlighted his work "for the excellence of the style and creativity, and for putting the focus on the broad concept and the integrative nature of culture, which allows us to understand and define what we are and do: a phenomenon that "gives meaning to our society." Furthermore, the jury highlighted that "Antonio Monegal, facing those who criticize the elitist nature of culture, argues, with a clear, fresh and direct narrative, in favor of it as a vital resource, as a basic necessity in the world that must be invested on because we cannot afford to live without it.”

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