Isabel Allende has won the Premio Planeta, Spain's €1 million literary prize, for a sequel to her 1982 debut novel The House of the Spirits.
The Chilean-American author, 84, claimed the award under a pseudonym at the 75th edition of the prize on Thursday. Her winning entry, La hora antes del alba, returns to the multigenerational family saga that defined her breakthrough work, set against political upheaval in a country inspired by Chile.
The Premio Planeta ranks among the world's most lucrative literary prizes. Allende's win marks a significant achievement for the author, whose debut novel established her as a major voice in contemporary fiction and has sold millions of copies globally.
The decision to enter under a pseudonym adds an unusual dimension to the prize, which typically celebrates authors by name. Allende's latest work deepens the world she created in The House of the Spirits, which follows interconnected family members across generations during periods of political crisis.
At 84, Allende continues an active literary career spanning decades. The House of the Spirits, published in 1982, became her signature work and was adapted into a 1993 film starring Meryl Streep and Jeremy Irons. The novel's exploration of family dynamics, love and resistance to authoritarian rule resonated with readers worldwide.