Juan Daniel Balcácer Wins Eduardo León Jimenes 2008 National Book Fair Prize

Historian Juan Daniel Balcácer received the Eduardo León Jimenes 2008 National Book Fair Prize on Tuesday April 29 for his book, “Trujillo: The Tyrannicide of 1961.”

“Trujillo: The Tyrannicide of 1961” was chosen among 48 books that were competing for the country’s most prestigious literary award.

José Rafael Lantigua, Dominican Minister of Culture, and businessman José A. León, president of the León Jimenes group which created the prize, oversaw the awards presentation which includes a cash prize of RD$400,000.

Members of the jury including writers José Mármol, Mu-Kien Adriana Sang and economist José Manuel Guzmán Ibarra were present at the ceremony which was held as part of the 11th International Book Fair of Santo Domingo 2008.

“Trujillo: The Tyrannicide of 1961” was chosen among 48 books that were competing for the country’s most prestigious literary award. The other competing books represented all genres from literary research to educational.

Organizers of the award say this year’s literary competition attracted the highest number of contenders in its history.

“Trujillo: The Tyrannicide of 1961,” as stated in comments from the jury, “is a widely and rigorously documented book in its presentation of what occurred … It shows a capacity for synthesis and precision not easy to achieve when establishing chronology followed by an evaluation and carrying out an analysis of those occurrences being studied.”