President Luis Abinader granted this Wednesday the Dominican nationality to the outstanding Peruvian writer, winner of the 2010 Nobel Prize for Literature, Mario Vargas Llosa.
After accepting Dominican nationality, the famed writer affirmed that the Dominican Republic is an example for Latin America because it is going in the right direction, despite the fact that the region is going through some difficult times.
“I believe that the Dominican Republic is an example for Latin America, it is going in the right direction without any doubt and I am very happy that the Dominican Republic with an intelligent, sensible government has promoted this country,” Vargas Llosa said.
He added that probably in the history of Latin America there is no other moment as difficult as the one it is going through today.
“I think it is an example of problems that have a solution and I would also love to spend a period of exaltation and true realization in the Dominican Republic,” Vargas Llosa added.
Vargas Llosa said he would like to spend long periods in the country and that he has many friends in the Dominican Republic, people who collaborated in his novels.
The prominent writer, who was accompanied by his family, said that it is not surprising that he feels at home during the periods he will spend in the country.
He specified that, although he would not come to the Dominican Republic to retire, he would continue to be very active with the purpose of coming to the country to work.
Vargas Llosa has decided to spend much of his time in the country
President Abinader, who was accompanied by First Lady Raquel Arbaje, indicated that he made the request because the prominent writer has decided to spend much of his time in the country and because of his desire to be on Dominican soil.
“I have asked him, because of that decision to spend much of his time in the country, to accept Dominican citizenship and he has accepted that citizenship,” explained the head of state.
He highlighted Vargas Llosa’s visit to the National Palace, whom he described as a great friend of the Dominican Republic.
About Vargas Llosa
Mario Vargas Llosa, who was born on March 28, 1936, is considered one of the most important contemporary novelists and essayists. His works have garnered him numerous awards, including the 2010 Nobel Prize for Literature, the 1994 Cervantes Prize, considered the most important in the Spanish language, the 1986 Prince of Asturias Award for Literature, the 1962 Biblioteca Breve Prize, the 1967 Romulo Gallegos Prize and the 1993 Planeta Prize, among others.
As a writer, he achieved fame in the 1960s with novels such as La ciudad y los perros (1963), La casa verde (1966) and Conversación en La Catedral (1969). He continued to prolifically cultivate various literary genres, such as essays, articles and plays. Several of his works have been adapted for film and television. Most of his novels are set in Peru and explore his conception of Peruvian society; however, in La guerra del fin del mundo (1981), La fiesta del Chivo (2000) and El sueño del celta (2010) he places his plots in other countries.
Source: presidencia.gov.do
