Cuban writer Leonardo Padura won today with his novel “Heretics”, the 10th International Prize of Historical Novel “Zaragoza City”, convened by the council of that city, Spain.

The jury chose “Heretics” by majority, a historical atypical novel with a detective novel format, explained Juan Bolea, Coordinator of the prize, with the participation of 41 works.

The jury awarded special mentions to Ex Aequo a Ronin, by Spanish Francisco Narla; Paris, by Britain’s Edward Rutherford and the House of the Gods of Alabaster, by Spanish Magdalena Lasala.

“Heretics” tells about a police investigation conducted in 2007 on the disappearance of a painting by Rembrandt that had traveled through several places from Havana to Germany in the 17th century.

According to writer Fernando Martínez Laínez, besides its originality, the novel is stylistically very well accomplished, criterion shared by other members of the jury at a press conference.

Padura, National Prize of Literature of Cuba, uses a character used in his detective novels, detective Mario Conde. Among other awards he has received the Café Gijón and the Hammett by several of his works.

Prensa Latina