Awards, Poetry

John Dent-Young wins Premio Valle Inclán

jacket imageAt a ceremony this Monday at London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall, John Dent-Young was awarded the Premio Valle Inclán by TLS editor Sir Peter Stothard for his recent English language translation of the works of Spanish poet Luis de Góngorra in Selected Poems of Luis de Góngora: A Bilingual Edition. In an article published yesterday acknowledging the award, the TLS‘s Adrian Tahourdin writes:

Góngora (1561–1627) is “considered by many to be Spain’s greatest poet,” according to Dent-Young, whose aim in this volume was “to rescue Góngora from his role as textbook example of the Baroque and give him a human voice,” while suggesting that Velázquez’s severe portrait of the poet (reproduced here) belies his true nature: “That bridge of yours, Manzanares, it’s a laugh; / listen to what the people round here say: / it’s a bridge that ought to span a mighty sea, / and you’re not river enough to merit half” (from “The Bridge of Segovia”). Reviewing Dent-Young’s work in the TLS of October 19, 2007, Chris Andrews wrote, “Góngora’s verse affords a range of pleasures … but bringing those together requires patience, good will and philological help. John Dent-Young has provided the smoothest possible access to the poems.… The translations are inventive and unstuffy, sensitive and bold, a pleasure to read on their own.”

Read the article on the TLS website, or find out more about the book.