The novel “A Força das Sentenças”, by Pedro Almeida Maia, was the winning work of this year's edition of the Manuel Teixeira Gomes Literary Prize, whose presentation took place late yesterday afternoon, December 6th, in a ceremony held at the Municipal Library Manuel Teixeira Gomes with the presence of the author.
The ceremony took place as part of the official program of celebrations for the 99th anniversary of Portimão's elevation to the category of city, which takes place next Monday, December 11th.
The topicality of the theme of “A Força das Sentenças”, the originality and creativity and the metaphorical language evident in the author's concern to make an impact on the reader, when confronted with the problem of an Alzheimer's patient, were decisive for the decision of the jurors, for whom the novel “is tremendously realistic and was certainly written by a person who knows the behavior of those who suffer from Alzheimer's and, equally, who cares for these patients on a daily basis”.
In addition to the unanimous award of the first prize, among the 120 works received for this year's edition, the jury of the literary competition, composed of Idalina Rodrigues, Mila Mariano and Carlos Café, also awarded an honorable mention to the novel “Farol: Lights on the Path of São Vicente”, by Clara Andrade, also present at the ceremony, which was presided over by Teresa Mendes, councilor responsible for Culture.
Pedro Almeida Maia, who often uses the pseudonym “Miguel Maria”, is an organizational and work psychologist, with a degree in Psychology from the University of the Azores and a master's degree in Psychology of Work, Organizations and Human Resources from the University of Coimbra and the University of Barcelona .
After beginning his literary career by writing for music in 1996, he published chronicles in the local press, having debuted in the novel with a police officer, in 2012, preceded by other works in different genres (story, children's, essay, poetry and argument). His sixth novel, “A Escrava Açoriana (2022)”, has been praised by critics, as was his previous one, “Ilha-América” (2020). In the soap opera genre, he published the drama “Nove Estações” in 2014.
Established by the municipality and the Manuel Teixeira Gomes Municipal Library, the event aims to stimulate literary creation and pay homage to the writer-President of the Republic, born in Portimão and patron of the award, whose winning work receives a monetary prize of 3500 euros (which previously was 1000 euros), in addition to the publication by the municipality of 300 copies, half of which were destined for the author.
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