Discover the life of Miguel Delibes
The complete biography
1920 – 1930
Miguel Delibes was born in Valladoild in October the 17th 1920, in the Acera de Recoletos number 12. He is the third sibling out of eight. His father, Adolfo Delibes is a Professor of Business Law at the Business School of Valladolid.
In 1923 Ángeles de Castro is born, future wife of the writer.
In 1930 as a child Delibes went to Primary School at the Hermanas Carmelitas in Valladolid and then he attended to the Lourdes Secondary and High School (Hermanos de la Salle) also in Valladolid.
1936 – 1939
The Spanish Civil War
1936
Miguel Delibes finishes his High School Diploma.
The bursting out of the Spanish Civil War coincides with Delibes´ entry in the Business School. He will combine these studies with modeling and drawing at the Trading and Arts School of Valladolid.
1938
Two years after the beginning of the Civil War and with the urge of the possibility of being claimed to join the army, he makes the decition of joining the Navy. He is then sent to the training ship “Galatea” and after that he will be based at the Cruise ship “Canarias”.
1939
The Spanish Civil War ends and Miguel Delibes returns to Valladolid.
1940 – 1942
Right in the post-war period, Miguel Delibes starts his Law studies.
In October the 10th 1941, he starts working for the newspaper El Norte de Castilla drawing caricatures to make the best of his drawing skills. In October 14th he publishes his firs two drawings: dos “monos” de fútbol (Two “monkey” football).
En 1942 ingresa, por oposición, en el Banco Castellano, permaneciendo en él sólo seis meses. En septiembre publica su primer artículo periodístico: «El deporte de la caza mayor».
1943 – 1944
In 1943 he takes up an intensive journalism course in Madrid and returns to Valladolid with his Journalism certification with the number 1.176 in May 25th 1944 (in the official Register of Journalist).
On the 9th of February 1944 he is named editor of the newsapaper El Norte de Castilla. He starts reviewing films and he illustrates them with caricatures of the main characters and he signs them up under the pen-name MAX: M stands for Miguel, A stands for Ángeles and X stands for the future. On the 27th of February he publishes his first cinema critique.
1945 – 1946
In 1945 he passes the public examinations for the seat as Professor at the Business Studies School, in this way he starts to balance his job as a journalist and his teaching job. One of the texts he had to learn by heart to pass the mentioned exam, will be his incentive for his literary vocation.
On the 23rd of April 1946 he gets married with Ángeles de Castro at the Lourdes School in Valladolid (his former High School). The Groom gave a bicycle as present to his Bride, and she gave him a typewriter. The honeymoon destination was Molledo Portolín, a small village in Santander where the writer has his family roots.
1947 – 1948
On the 12th of February 1947 his first male child, Miguel, was born. He became a PhD in Biological Science and Professor at the Higher Council of Scientific Investigation. He also was director of the Biological National Park of Coto de Doñana from 1988 to 1996. Delibes finishe his first novel, La sombra del ciprés es alargada. Prior to this he had only written his Thesis of degree “Causas de la disolución de las compañías anónimas” and a tale named “La bujía”. With this tale he wins a second position in a brief narrative contest organized by the magazine Medina, on its femenine section.
On the 6th of January 1948 his novel La sombra del ciprés es alargada achieves the Nadal award in its fourth edition-1947-, the finalists were Manuel Pombo Angulo and Ana María Matute. The novel is published in April, short after the birth- on the 23rd of March-of his first daughter, Ángeles. Same as his elder brother, she is a biologist and nowadays she is a Biochemestry Professor at the Technical School of Agronomist at the Universidad Politécnica of Madrid. From this year are the first letters between Miguel Delibes and his future to be editor, JosepVergés- Founder of Destino Publishing House and whom he will meet a few years after and will have a close friendship until the death of Vergés in 2001.
1949
In October 1949 Delibes publishes his second novel, Aún es de día, which suffered numerous censoring cutbacks.
When he achieves the seat as Professor of History at the Business School, he writes and publishes for a printing house of Valladolid a Summary of the Spanish History as the text book for his lessons. This manual will be later on withdrawn by the authorities arguing differences between the narration and the most recent Spanish history.
On the 25th of May his third child, Germán, is born. He is and Archeologist and Professor of Pre-history at the University of Valladolid.
1950 – 1955
In the beginning of 1950 Delibes suffers form a feint of tuberculosis, which forces him to rest for three months. On the 5th of September his fourth child, Elisa, is born. He is a Spanish and French Filologist and a Secondary School Professor. She is nowadays the President of the Fondation Miguel Delibes. In December, Delibes publishes his third novel El Camino (“The Path”) with which he achieves his literary recognition.
In 1952 Miguel Delibes is named Secretary of the Business School of Valladolid and Assistant Director for El Norte de Castilla. Here start his confrontations with the Press authorities.
In July 1953 he publishes his fourth novel Mi idolatrado hijo Sisí, dedicated to his seven siblings. He publishes El loco in the collection “La novela del sábado”.
En julio de 1953 publica su cuarta novela, Mi idolatrado hijo Sisí, dedicada a sus siete hermanos. Publica El loco en la colección «La novela del sábado».
In 1954 it is born his first collection of tales La partida and he publishes a short novel Los raíles in the collection “La novela del sábado”.
Miguel Delibes wins the National Literature Award (Premio Nacional de Literatura) with his fith novel Diario de un cazador ( “Diary of a Hunter” ) which he started in the beginning of 1954 and published in March 1955. The Journalist Circle of Santiago de Chile invites Miguel Delibes to visit their country. The resul of this visit to Chile will be a travelling book “Un novelista descubre América (Chile en lo ajeno)”- published in 1956- and the novel “Diario de un emigrante” published in 1958. In August the 5thAdolfo Delibes, father of the novelist, dies at the age of 81.
1956 – 1959
On the 25th of March 1956 his fifth child, Juan, is born. He is a Biologist and former director of the hunting and fishing magazine Trofeo, nowadays he is the director of the TV programme Hunting and fishing channel, broadcasted by Digital Plus. In May he publishes his travelling book Un novelista descubre América (Chile en lo ajeno). Miguel Delibes travels around Italy and he visits several cities.
In May 1957 he publishes Siestas con viento sur, formed by four essays:«La mortaja», «El loco», «Los nogales» y «Los raíles». The Real Academia Española (RAE) awards him with the Fastenrath Award. Miguel Delibes travels around Portugal. In this same year Miguel Delibes´ work starts to be translated to other languages. The first of these translations will be of the novel El camino (The Path) into Portuguese.
Miguel Delibes is named director of the newspaper El Norte de Castilla in 1958.
In April his sith novel sees the light, Diario de un emigrnate, dedicated to his wife: “To Ángeles de Castro de Delibes, the balance, my balance”. This novel is the continuation of Diario de un cazador (Diary of a Hunter) and it has Lorenzo as its main character again. It is translated into French the novel Mi idolatrado hijo Sisí. From this date the work of Miguel Delibes will be translated to the most important languages of the world and some of his novels will be even translated to some minor languages too.
In May 1959 he will publish his seventh novel La hoja roja (The red paper), written thanks to a Grant of the March Foundation. Miguel Delibes travels to Paris to take part in the Congress for the Freedom of Culture.
1960 – 1965
1960
On the 5th of June 1960 born his sixth child, Adolfo, who is also a Biologist as other of his three brothers, nowadays he works as a civil servant for the Environment Council in the Junta de Castilla y León.
Miguel Delibes travels around Germany and he visitis several universities in November and December.
The writer publishes a book of rural chronicles with ilustrations of Jaume Pla called Castilla for a select publishing house called “Rosa Vera”. There were only 150 copies published of this book. This same book will be published four years after under the tittle Old Stories of Castilla la Vieja.
El Camino (The Path) is published in The United States with eighteen ilustrations of Delibes.
1961
In July will be published Por esos mundos: Sudamérica con escala en Canarias.This book includes the same chronicles as Un novelista descubre América. Chile en el ojo ajeno, but he includes a second part, Tenerife as the result of a brief visit of the writer to the Canary Island in January 1960.
In March the newspaper El Norte de Castilla published a supplement called “El caballo de Troya” which was a criticism publication against Franco´s regime censorship.
1962
In January Delibes publishes his eighth novel Las ratas (The Rats) which he started the 8th of March of 1959 as it is stated in the manuscript. This novel was awarded with the Critique Award granted by the Spanish Asociation of Lietrary Critics. Nevertheless, this novel suffered the censorship and the writer was not allowed to criticize the poverty and the abandoned situation in which Castilla was inmerse.
On the 15th of August dies María Setién at the age of 74 the mother of the writer.
On the 16th of July, Camino is born, the last of his children. She has a Bachelor degree in Arts and she has diploma certification in landscape.
Ana Mariscal directs the cinema version of El Camino (The Path), the first of Delibes´novels adapted to de cinema.
1963
Due to several confrontations with the Information and Tourism Minister, Manuel Fraga Iribarne, Delibes ends up resigning form his post as director of El Norte de Castilla. Despite this, Delibes continued managing the newpapaer in the shade until 1966.
Miguel Delibes publishes his first hunting theme based book, La caza de la perdiz roja that contained some pictures by Oriol Maspons. The book is about the dialogue between the hunter-writer and the partridge hunter Juan Gualberto, “el Barbas”.
His third book of travelling chronicles Europa: parada y fonda sees the light. In this book he narrates his trips around Italy (1956), Portugal (1957), Germany (1960) and France (1959).
1964
Viejas historias de Castilla la Vieja (Old stories of Castilla la Vieja) is published, a book about a village of Castilla seen through the eyes of an emigrant that returns to his village after 48 years abroad. This book was previously published in 1960 with the title Castilla.
In May his second complitation of hunting topics books is published El libro de la caza menor” (Book of minor hunting) with photographs by Francisco Ontañón.
In April sees the light the first volume of the Obra Completa of Delibes that includes a preface that explains the reason why of his literary activity. The first volume includes La sombra del ciprés es alargada, El Camino (The Path) and Mi idolatrado hijo Sisí.
Miguel Delibes lived in the United Sated for six months, there he works as a visitor Professor at the Foreign Languages and Literature Department of Maryland University.
1965
The writer opens the “Cultural Lecture Hall” of El Norte de Castilla with a conference of the philosopher Julián Marías. Some of the most relevant names of the Spanish intellectuals will develop some of their activity in this lecture hall, sometimes generating controversy with the authorities.
Miguel Delibes took part in the doubing of the film Doctor Zhivago from the British director David Lean.
1966 – 1969
1966
On April, 1966 his fourth travelling book “USA y yo“, sees the light. It is and illustrated work that summarizes the experiences of the author two years before, during his time in that country.
In December “Cinco horas con Mario“, (“Five hours with Mario”) is published.
This will be his nineth novel and one of the most relevant titles of the author. In May saw the light the second volume of “Complete Works” of Miguel Delibes with the following titles: “Diary of a Hunter”, “Diary of an Emigrant”, “Hunting the Red Partridge”, “ Old stories of Castilla la Vieja” and “Book of the minor Hunting”. In the Preface the writer explains his theories about the hunting practice and he defines himself as “a hunter that writes”. He also gives a guideline and explains his literary fixed values: the death, childhood, nature and fellowship.
In this year the essay “La milana” is published in a tribute book to the linguist Emilio Alarcos- “Homenaje al professor Alarcos García”- edited by the University of Valladolid. This essay could be considered the woom of the novel “Los santos inocentes” which was published in 1981.
On the 2nd of February was opened with the iniciative of Miguel Delibes “Cine Club El Norte deCastilla”, with the opening movie Kane Citizen by Orson Welles.
1968
On 1968,Invited by the Universities of Prague and Brno, Miguel Delibes travels around Chzek Republic just a few months before the U.S.S.R. called off the experience known as “Prague´s Spring”.
Under that same title “La primavera de Praga“(“Prague´s Spring) it is published a chronicle book that were previously compiled in the magazine “Triunfo”. In those chronicles the writer talks about his experiences lived in Prague. When the book was being printed the Russian invasion took place and Delibes verifies and condemns this event.
In March “Vivir al día“. sees the light. It is a series of several articles published in different Spanish newspapers- El Norte de Castilla, La Vanguardia, Ya, Informaciones, etc.- and under different circumstances […] and along a period of almost fifteen years, from 1953 to 1967 (citing the Preface).
In April the third volume of “Complete Works” of Delibes with the novels “Aún es de día“, “La hoja roja” y “Las ratas“. In the preface the novelist explains how those three novels follow one of his fixed values of his narrative: the solidarity towards his fellows.
In November it is broadcasted on Spanish TV (TVE), “En una noche así”, which was the adaptation for TV by Cayetano Luca de Tena of a tale of the same title included in “La Partida”, a volume of tales published in 1954.
1969
On July, 1969 Delibes publishes his tenth novel “Parábola del náufrago“. It is a critique of the totalitary regimes and a satire against the destruction of the language theories.
1970 – 1973
On December, 1970 his third book about hunting topics is edited, “Con la escopeta al hombro“, it is a collection of twentifive chronicles bout hunting during the season between 69´s and the 70´s. This chronicles were previously publish on the press.
In this same year “La mortaja“, sees the light with a preface of Miguel Ángel Pastor. The tale that provides the title to this book had already been published in 1957 as part of “Siestas con viento sur“.
Another selection of works of Delibes called “Mi mundo y el mundo“, ” is published, this selection of texts is aimed for children aged 11 to 14.
In July the fourth volume of of “The complete works” of Miguel Delibes is edited with the books: “Por esos mundos: Sudamérica con escala en Canarias“, “Europa: parada y fonda“, “USA y yo” and “La primavera de Praga“. In the Preface the author explains his “personal procedure to walk around the world” and his travelling philosophy.
On 1972 Miguel Delibes publishes a new book about hunting contents, “La caza en España“, formed by four brief essays.
In February is also published the diary “Un año de mi vida“, ” (“A year in my life”) which extends from the 22nd of June of 1970 to the 20th of June of 1971. This edition had already been published on the magazine Destino with the title “Notas” (“Notes”).
On February 1, 1973 is named a member of the Real Academia Española to occupy the sit with the letter “e” (lower case) which was vacant due to the pass away of the historian Julio Guillen.
On the 7th of December the writer is also named a member of the Hispanic Society of America.
In this same month the eleventh novel of the author is published “El príncipe destronado“. The handscript of this novel dated of the beginning of 15thof March of 1964 and the ending date was 21st of April of the same year, despite this the novel was not published until 1973.
1974 – 1979
On November 22, 1974 the author´s wife, Ángeles, dies at the age of 50. Her absence will determine from now and on le life of Delibes.
Jose Antonio Páramo makes an adaptation for TV (TVE) of the tale “La mortaja”, which was very successfully presented at Montecarlo´s Festival. In Spain will not be broadcasted until 1993 due to the censorship.
On 1975 With the title of “ the meaning of progress from my work´s point of view”, Miguel Delibes pronounces on the 25th of May his discourse to his designation as a member of the Real Academia Española (RAE), he was counterparted by the philosopher Julián Marías.
In January the writer publishes his twelveth novel, “Las guerras de nuestros antepasados“, (“Wars of our ancestors”) and “Un año de mi vida” (“A year of my life”). In a breve preface the writer aclares that “the only thing in common between these two pieces is that they have been published in newspapers”.
On 1976 The film director Antonio Giménez-Rico will adapt the novel “Mi idolatrado hijo Sisí”, (My idolized son Sisí”) under the title “Retrato de familia” (“Family Portrait”).
In March is published “S.O.S. (El sentido del progreso desde mi obra)“. This is actually his entry discourse in the Real Academia Española (RAE) but accompanied of two other little texts “Prólogo a un libro sobre caza de patos que no llegó a escribirse” and “La catástrofe de Doñana”.
On January, 1977 another title based on hunting issues sees the light “Aventuras, venturas y desventuras de un cazador a rabo“. It is a hunting diary which contains three hunting seasons from 1971 to 1974.
In December it is published “Mis amigas las truchas“, with the subtitle “Del block de notas de un pescador de ribera”, this could be considered his first and last fishing book.
Antonio Mercero adapts for the cinema “El príncipe destronado” (“The deposed prince”) under the title “La Guerra de papá” (“Dad´s war”).
Josefina Molina make a series for TV of five chapters about the novel “El camino” (“The Path”) which receives and award at Prague’s Festival.
On November, 1978 sees the light “El disputado voto del señor Cayo“, that makes number thirteenth of Delibes´novels.
On November 26, 1979 takes the Premier of and adaptation of“Cinco horas con Mario” (“Five hours with Mario”) in the Marquina Theater of Madrid directed by Josefina Molina and starred by Lola Herrera. The play is represented all over Spain achieving great success and extraordinary reviews,for this reason the play will be revived over again along several years and again starred by Lola Herrera and more recently by Natalia Millán.
“Castilla, lo castellano y los castellanos“, is published. This is a compilation of selected narrative texts commented by Delibes himself.
“El mundo en la agonía“ (“The world in agony”) is published, this is a book illustrated by José Ramón Sánchez and it is a division of eleven chapters of the entry discourse in the RAE. Nine years after, in 1988, this same text will be published with pictures and illustrations by the Suiss designer Celestino Piatti.
1980 – 1989
1980
On 1980,The seventh National congress of bookmakers held in June in Valladolid, pays tribute to Miguel Delibes.Ve la luz “Dos días de caza”, (“Two hunting days”) sees the light, another hunting based title that includes the two chronicles that open and close it “El libro de caza menor”- published in 1964- and now conform this little volume.
1981
On 1981, Miguel Delibes publishes his fourteenth novel “Los santos inocentes” (“The innocent saints”). Set in the region of Extremadura during the seventies, this novel means one peak in his literary production.
In January it is edited his seventh hunting book “Las perdices del domingo” ” (“Sunday partridges”). According to Delibes, this is a “Precise diary where I patiently give record along four years- from 1974 to 1978- of my unspeakable Sunday adventures”.
In March appears the edition of the theater version of “Cinco horas con Mario” (“Five hours with Mario”) with an introductory study of Gonzalo Sobejano.
This same year ther is a re-edition of “Europa: parada y fonda“, with an introductory study of Ramón García Domínguez and “Mi mundo y el mundo“, (“My world and the world”) anthology published by the publishing house Miñón contained in the children literature collection “Las Campanas”. (“The Bells”).
1982
April 21, 1982 Miguel Delibes is awarded with the Premio Príncipe de Asturias de las Letras, which he saheres with Gonzalo Torrente Ballester. He writes a book for children “Tres pájaros de cuenta“, dedicated to his grandchildren “who since they were born they payed interest to the birds”.
April 21, 1982 Miguel Delibes is awarded with the Premio Príncipe de Asturias de las Letras, which he saheres with Gonzalo Torrente Ballester. He writes a book for children “Tres pájaros de cuenta“, dedicated to his grandchildren “who since they were born they payed interest to the birds”.
1983 – 1984
On october, 1983 appears his fifteenth novel, “Cartas de amor de un sexagenario voluptuoso“. On the 28th of January he is named Doctor honoris causa at he University of Valladolid.
On 1984 La Junta de Castilla y León awards Delibes with Premio de las Letras (in its first edition) naming him the most distinguished and characteristic writer of our sphere. The bookmakers name Miguel Delibes “author of the year” and award him with the Golden book.
The witer obtains the award Vida Sana given by the association of the same name which develops and encourages the biological culture.
The director Mario Camus adapts for the cinema the novel “Los santos inocentes” (“The innocent saints”), whose main characters will be Alfredo Landa and Francisco Rabal who in the same way obtain the award to best actors at Cannes Festival.
1985
On October, 1985 Miguel Delibes publishes «El tesoro»,
his sixteenth novel. This year he also edits “La censura de prensa en los años 40 (y otros ensayos)” (“Censsoship during the 40´s and other essays”).
“Trilogía del campo” (“The fields trilogy”) is presented in Barcelona this is formed by “ThePath”, “The Rats” and “The innocent saints”, This trilogy is published on a special edition with illustratios of Val Zanetti.
The wrter receives Premio de Periodismo (Journalist´s award) “Ramón Godó Lallana” in its 21st edition (year 84-85) recognizing his press article “Juventud y novella” (“Youth and novel”).
In May Delibes participates as the only Spanish writer in a congress for novelist, critics and editors having as its main topic “the best-seller” held in Alba, a region of the Italian Piamonte.
On the 7th of June Miguel Delibesis awarded with Premio de las Letras de Castilla y León correspondant to the year 1984 at the chapel of the School San Gregorio in Valladolid.
On the 6th of Decmber, and by the Presiden of France Jack Lang, Delibes is named Chevalier de lórdre des Arts et des Lettres.
The writer travels to Yugoslavia
1986
On September 6, 1986 Delibes is named Hijo Predilecto of the city of Vlladolidand a tribute is paid to him for this reason.
The Premiere of the theater play adaptation of “La hoja roja” (“The red paper”) takes place at the Theater Calderón of Valladolid, under the direction of Manuel Collado. This will be the second novel of Miguel Delibes that will be adapted to a theater play.
In October Delibes publishes “Castilla habla“ (“Castilla speaks”) making clear his interest in this region and its people. This book is a living portrait of the reality of the peple of Castilla, the modest inhabitants of its villages.
In this sam yaer appears “Trilogía de la ciudad” (“The city trilogy”) formed by the novels “The red paper”, “My idolized son Sisí” and “The deposed prince”, which is published in a special edition by Círculo de Lectores, publishing house.
Antonio Giménez-Rico directs “El disputado voto del señor Cayo” as a film that obtains the “Espiga de Plata” at the International week of the Cinema in Valladlid (SEMINCI).
1987
On february, 1987 it is published the theater version of “The red paper” with a presentation of Delibes himself which is entitled Historia de esta historia (History of this story) and with a preface of Pere Gimferrer. Miguel Delibes publishes in October his seventeenth novel “377A, madera de héroe” which is a rather autobiographic novel. Afterwards and by the will of the author this title is reduced to “Madera de héroe“.
1988
In May, 1988 appears the children book “Mi querida bicicleta“, (“My dear bycicle”) edited in the children collection “Las Campanas” (Miñón publishing house).
In November the writer publishes “La caza de la perdiz roja en España“, anthologyin which are contained part of the text from “Aventuras, venturas y desventuras de un cazador a rabo”, “Las perdices del domingo”, “Con la escopeta al hombro” and “Libro de caza menor” with pictures by Francesc Catalá-Roca.
In March the publishing house Destino had re-edited “El Loco” and essay included in “Siestas con viento sur” (1957).
In this same year Antonio Mercero makes ana adaptation to the cinema of “El tesoro” which had a not very successful Premier at the Semana Internacional de Cine of Valladolid (SEMINCI).
At the 2nd Salón del Libro of Bordeaux, Miguel Delibes is awarded with Premio “Air Inter” to the best foreign novel published in France in 1987 “Cinq heures avec Mario”.
1989
On February, 1989 the book “El libro de caza menor” is re-edited but this time without the first and last chronicles that appeared in the first edition of 1964 and that afterwards were published in a reduced volume called “Dos días de caza”.
In September appears “Mi vida al aire libre (Memorias deportivas de un hombre sedentario)“.
On the 7th of February there is the Premiere of the adaptation of the novel for a play “Las guerras de nuestros antepasados” at the Theater Teatro de Bellas Artes of Madrid. This is the third novel of Miguel Delibes adapted to a play this time by Antonio Giménez-Rico.
This same year the trilogy “Encuentro de la ciudad en el campo” (“Meeting of the city in the countryside”) which is a compiled edition of the novels “El disputado voto del señor Cayo”, “Cartas de amor de un sexagenario voluptuoso” and “El Tesoro” with illustrations of Grau Santos.
The Real Federación Española de Caza gives Miguel Delibes the Premio “Carlos III” award (in its second edition).
1990 – 1994
1990
On May 7, 1990 Delibes is granted the title os Doctor Honoris Causa by the University of Sarre (Germany).
In this same month there will be the Premiere of the cinema version of “La sombra del ciprés es alargada” (“The long shape of the cypress”), directed by Luis Alcoriza. In October it is edited the Theater play version of “Las guerras de nuestro antepasados” (“The wars of our ancestors”) and at he same time the Premiere takes place in Barcelona.
In September Miguel Delibes publishes “Pegar la hebra“, a collection of journalist articles and public interventions of the author.
1991
On May 30, 1991 Miguel Delibes receives the Premio Nacional de las Letras Españolas awarded by the Culture Ministry.
In April the theater version of “Las guerras de nuestros antepasados” is performed for the first time in Buenos Aires, and it remains performing until the end of July.
From the 15th to the 19th of July, takes place the course The author and his work: Miguel Delibes included in the summer courses program of El Escorial organized by the Complutense University of Madrid. This seminar was directed by José Jiménez Lozano and had participants that are specialists on Miguel Delibes from all over the world.
In September the author publishes his eighteenth novel “Señora de rojo sobre fondo gris“, (“The Lady in red over grey background”) an emotional tribute to his wife, Ángeles, who passed away 17 years before.
From the 12th to the 15thof November takes place the V Congress of Contemporary Spanish Literature at Málaga University with the title “Miguel Delibes: The writer, the work and the lecturer” directed by Critóbal Cuevas García.
The Vasc Hunting and Fishing Association grants the author with the bston of aguijada with the vasc motto “hitza, hitz” (“the value of words”) which is a symbol of power and authority.
1992
On March, 1992 it is edited “La vida sobre ruedas“, ” (“Life on wheels”) a compilation of four short stories- previously published in “Mi vida al aire libre (Memorias deportivas de un hombre sedentario)“– that talk about sports, specially those that are practiced on wheels.
From the 12th of May to the 3rd of June due to the Premio Nacional de las Letras Españolas awarded to the author in 1991, takes place in Madrid a Encounter with Miguel Delibes, organized by the Center of Letras Españolas (Culture Ministry). They will consist in seven conferences and four debates at the cultural foundations Juan March and Mapfre-Vida with the aim of going in depth into Delibes´work. At the same time, the March Foundation hosts a bibliographical and docunmentary exhibition about the life and the work of the author.
The Chamber of Contractors of Castilla y León awards the author on the 26th of June highlighting “his contribution to spread the knowledge about the Region of Castilla y León and the appropriate use of the catellana language.
In September Delibes published a new hunting book “El último coto“.
The 8th of October there is a new performance at the Teatro Imperial of Sevilla of “Las guerras de nuestros antepasados”, directed by José Sacristán.
Delibes receives the Premio “Amigos de la Tierra 92”, awarded by the international ecologist association “Amigos de la Tierra”
1993
On 1993 this will be a recognition and tribute year for Miguel Delibes and it had its peak with the award Premio Cervantes.
On the 28th of February Delibes receives Premio de Teatro “Rojas Zorrilas” award for best play text of a living author, corresponding to the year 1992, for “Las guerras de nuestros antepasados”.
On the 19th of April Delibes receives the golden medal from Valladolid Province. Taking the chance of this award they take place a series of conferences about Miguel Delibes and his work and also the opening of a bibliographic and documentary exhibition about the novelist.
There is a re-editing of the children tale “La granjilla”, which is distributed all over the Schools and libraires of Valladolid.
From the 22nd to the 30th of October, takes place the 38th edition of the International cinema week of Valladolid (SEMINCI) and they dedicate a cicle to the films of Miguel Delibes and they award him the “Espiga de Oro”- top award of the contest- for his contribution to the cinema with his literature. As a result of this SEMINCI edition will see the light a book called: Miguel Delibes: the written image”.
On the 26th of November the Pediatric Association of Asturias, Cantabria and Castilla y León name him Honor Member for his fidelity and his particular way of taking to novels the childhood world.
The University of Valladolid decides to name the University Campus Miguel Delibes.
On the 1st of December he is awarded with the Premio de Literatura en Lengua Castellana “Miguel de Cervantes”, by the Culture Ministry and it meant the highest recognition to the Letras Españolas.
1994
On 1994 Miguel Delibes receives Premio de Literatura en Lengua Castellana “Miguel de Cervantes” award from the King of Spain Juan Carlos I on the 25th os April at the University of Alcalá de Henares.
. Following this acknowledgement two more anthologies see the light one of them is devoted to his hunting writings- these were selected by Ramón García Domínguez- “Miguel Delibes is a hunter who writes” and the other one is a complitation of six tales illustrated by Antonio Mingote and José Ramón Sánchez with the title of “Miguel Delibes, Premio de Literatura en Lengua Castellana Miguel de Cervantes 1993”.
At the same time several Spanish photographers dedicate a book to the writer, “La fotografía con Miguel Delibes”, and a moving exhibition dedicated to the author and his work is organized around the book.
As an opening to this season is opened another exhibition “Premios Cervantes. Una Literatura en dos Continentes” and statrs a season of confferences and debates about the work of the author with the title “Las constants de Delibes”.
On the 17th of October, coinciding with his 14 birthday, there was the debut of “Le guerre promise” at the Théâtre des Nesie de Paris, the French version of “The wars of our Ancestors. This time the play is directed by Oscar Sisto.
In December appears an anthology of his texts about the cilhood with the title “Los niños” (“The children”).
El Instituto Cervantes (Cervantes Institute) organizes in Lisbon a cinema week based on the writer´s work.
1995 – 1999
1995
On March, 1995 the author publishes “Diario de un jubilado“,(“Diary of a retired Man”), his third novel in which the main character is Lorenzo after “Diario de un cazador“(“Diary of a Hunter”) (1995) and “Diario de un emigrante” (“Diary of a Emigrant”) (1958). In April, Miguel Delibes together with other 70 Sapnish intellectuals signs a manifest “En defensa de la Democracia” (“In defense of Democracy”). In October he receives Premio de los Lectores de la revista Elle for his novel “Diario de un jubilado“.
1996
On May 30, 1996 of Nay Delibes is invested Doctor honoris causa at the University of Alaclá de Henares. In Spetember the writer publishes “He dicho“, (“I said so”), a compilation of press articles, short essays and his discourse at the Premio Miguel de Cervantes award ceremony.
1997
January 24, 1997 it is awarded Premio de Periodismo “Miguel Delibes”, created by the Press Association of Valladolid and awarded to Fernando Lázaro Carreter who at that time was the Director of the Real Academia Española. On the 24th of October is the Premiere the film “The Rats” as the opening movie at the 42nd International week of Cinema of Valladolid (SEMINCI), this film was an adaptation of the novel of the same name and directed by Antonio Giménez-Rico.
On the 3rd of Novenber Delibes receives the I Premio “Luka Brajnovic” de la Comunicación given by the University of Navarra recognizing his professional career committed to the defence and improvement of dignity and human values as freedom, solidariry and tolerance as well as his independent attitude considering the peculiar press regime he had to live in.
1998
On May 20, 1998 Delibes needed surgery due to his cancer illness, this happened almost at the same time he finished his novel “El hereje” ” (“Heretic”). On the 29th of September he publishes his last novel “El hereje“, (“Heretic”) dedicated to the city of Valladolid “my city”, which took him about three years to finish. In the first three days after the publishing of the novel, it sold 90,000 copies.
In June was the Premiere of “Una pareja perfecta” (“The perfect couple”), an adaptation to the cinema of the novel “Diario de un jubilado” (“Diary of a retired man”) and directed by Francesc Betriú and screenplay of Rafael Azcona.
1999
On October, 1999 Miguel Delibes is awarded in October with the Premio Nacional de Narrativa, given by the Ministry of Culture for his novel “El hereje” (“Heretic”).
In November Delibes receives at his home in Valladolid the Golden Medal for his achievements in his working career- according to the Cabinet on the 30th of April- the award was given to him by the Minister of Work and Social Affairs, Manuel Pimentel and by the President of of La Junta de Castilla y León, Juan José Lucas.
In this same month appears the first volume of the Collection “Mis libros Preferidos” (“My favourite books”) under the title “Los estragos del tiempo” (“The ravages of time passing”) and conformed by “El camino” (“The Path”), “La mortaja” and “La hoja roja” (“The red paper”). Delibes wanted to compile in this collection his favourite titles and in this way making them his definite texts.
Appears another edition of “Mi mundo y el mundo”- A selection of works of Delibes for children aged 11 to 14- in the collection “Valepluma”, a joined edition by Edilesa and La Junta de Castilla y León.
2000 – 2003
2000
On May, 2000 the town hall of Valladolid pays tribute to Miguel Delibes at the Book Fair with a public reading of “El hereje” (“Heretic”) by a group of authorities and people from Valladolid.
From the 7th to the 13th of August and at the Film and Literature Festival of Burgos, a season dedicated to the film adaptations of Delibes takes place and he receibes the “Cid de Honor” for his contribution to the so called, 7th Art. On the 17th of October the author celebrates his 80th birthday and the city of Valladolid opens “The Heretic Rout”, an urban tour around the most significant places that appear in the novel. In November an edition of the handscript of “The Path”, is edited to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the publishing of the novel.
2001
On March 27, 2001, Worldwide day of the Theater, it is represented in Valladolid the proyect “Trilogía teatral de Delibes” which consists in staging again three of the plays by Delibes in theaters: “Cinco horas con Mario”, “Las guerras de nuestros antepasados” and “La hoja roja”. The first one is represented again on the 6th of October at the Calderón Theater in Valladolid and starred once again by Lola Herrera. The second is represented again in the year 2002 at the Principal Theater of Palencia and the third one finally won´t be represented again.
On the 28th of June the Diputación on Valladolid gives the author the Premio “Provincia de Valladolid a la trayectoria Literaria del siglo XX”, created by the Diputación. On the 17th of October and coinciding with the 81st birthday of the author, nominate Delibes for the Nobel Prize of Literature. This nomination is supported by many public figures related to the cultural activity and by thousands of people all over the world.
Delibes reads the closing ceremony discourse at the II Congress of the Spanish Language in Valladolid on the 19th of October 2001. On the 14th of December Miguel Delibes receives the Premio Extraordinario in the first edition of the “Castellanos y Leoneses del Mundo” , created by the Junta de Castilla y León and the newspaper El Mundo.
2002
On May 31, 2002 it is represented again at Principal Theater of Palencia “Las guerras de nuestros antepasados”. On the 14th of November, the Association of Scenic Directors of Spain (ADE) gives Miguel Delibes the Medal of the Association as an acknowledgment to his contribution to the Theater in Spain. The Instituto de Desarrollo Comunitario (IDC) gives the author the Premio “Por un Mundo Rural Vivo”, for his “dignifying of the rural life”.
It is Published “Correspondencia, 1948-1986 (Miguel Delibes-Josep Vergés)” a collection of letters sent to each other (writer and editor) along the mentioned years.
2003
On February 7 and 8, 2003 Between the 7th and 8th of February takes place an International Congress about the author at the University of New York City (CUNY) and the lecture Miguel Delibes is created having as headquarters the cities of Valladolid and New York. In June appears a commemorative edition of “Mi idolatrado hijo Sisí“, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the first edition of that novel.
In September 2003 and February 2004, the newspapaer El Norte de Castilla publishes the collection “All the novels of Miguel Delibes” in 21 volumes. The publishing house RequeR edits “Tres pájaros de cuenta y tres cuantos olvidados” with a preface of Amparo Medina-Bocos.
2004 – 2009
On 2004 Appears “España 1936-1950: muerte y resurrección de la novela“, a collection of lieterary confferences of Miguel Delibes that commemorate the number 1,000 of the collection “Áncora y Delfín” of Destino Publishing House.
On March, 2005 it is published “La tierra herida (¿Qué mundo heredarán nuestros hijos?)”, a dialogue between Delibes and his son Miguel Delibes de Castro about environmental issues.
In September it is re-edited “Diario de un cazador”, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first edition of this novel. The newspaper El Norte de Castilla publishes the second part of Miguel Delibes´work, compiling in 25 volumes those titles that do not correspond to novels.
On February 22, 2006 it is opened “Miguel Delibes´ Room” at the Calderón Theater in Valladolid. On the 15th of June the writer receives Premio VOCENTO a los valores Humanos, “for his defense of the human values throughout journalism, his personal literary sensibility towards those who are disadvantaged and his love for nature”.The award was given by the king and the queen of Spain and took place the 17th of October, on the birthday of the writer, in Valladolid.
On the 24th of November the Sociedad General de Autores de España (SGAE) nomites Delibes as a candidate to the Nobel Prize together with Francisco Ayala and Ernesto Sábato. The short narrative of the author is compiled in a single volume with the title “Viejas historias y cuentos completes”.
On February, 2007 is published a commemorative edition of the sixtieth anniversary of the novel “La sombra del ciprés es alargada“. In April takes place the inauguration act in Valladolid of the Auditorium “Miguel Delibes” built by the prestigious arquitect Ricardo Bofil and that soon became the most representative building for the cultural life of Valladolid. On the 17th of October of 2011 (anniversary of the writer´s birthday) in this same building will be presented the Miguel Delibes Foundation in an act that will be presided by the Prince and Princess of Asturias.
Directed by Ramón García Domínguez they start with the publishing of “Complete Works” of Miguel Delibes a compilation in seven volumes and published simultaneously by Destino and Galxia&Gutenberg-Círculo de Lectores Publishing Houses. Miguel Delibes receives the Premio “Quijote” awarded by the Asssociation of Spanish Writers. From the 16th to the 18th of October takes place at the University of Valladolid the International Congress “Cruzando Fronteras: Miguel Delibes entre lo local y lo universal”.
On 2008 Miguel Delibes is named Doctor honoris causa by the University of Salamanca as he was nominated by the Biology Faculty of Animal Biology. The Town Hall of Ávila plays tribute to the writer coinciding with the 60th anniversary of the novel “La sombra del ciprés es alargada” (“The long shade of the cypress”) which is set in this city.
On 2009 Miguel Delibes is adopted by the town of Molledo Portolín in the region of Cantabria and which inspired the novel “The Path”, at the same time his name is given to a street nearby the house where the writer spent his childhood.
The writer receives the Premio “Dragonia Iberia” acknowledging his artistic expression from the Foundation Nueva Cultura del Agua, “to thank him his understanding and teaching us our relationship with nature in a universal language: feelings and memory”. Delibes also receives the Golden Medal of Castilla y León given by the Junta of Castilla Y León and that highlights his lifelong and literay connection with his homeland.
On the 27th of September, the Government of Cantabria awards him with the Golden Medal of Turistic Merit, since he was descendant of Cantabria and a regular visitor of the region since he was a child and contributed with his many articles and novels (“The Path”, “Mi life in the fresh air”) to the spreading of the geography, culture and costumes of that region. The Publishing House of Valladolid El Pasaje de las Letras publishes “Mis perros“, (“My dogs”) a selection of texts taken form the novel “Mi vida al aire libre” (1989) and “El último coto” (1992) with a Preface of Germán Delibes de Castro.
2010
On March 12, 2010 Miguel Delibes dies at the age of 89, surrounded by his children in his house in Valladolid.
The burning chapel is installed in the City Hall of Valladolid, to which thousands of citizens come to say goodbye to the writer and in which the relatives receive and appreciate the multiple expressions of affection and respect.
Miguel Delibes rests in the Pantheon of Illustrious Men of Valladolid, to which the remains of his wife, Ángeles de Castro, were transferred on April 24.
