Javier Marías did not accept the prize (LOS ENAMORAMIENTOS was unanimously chosen by the jury) because he had always said that he did not want to receive any prizes or invitations related to the Spanish Government. He has been awarded (and accepted) many other international prizes, but since 1995 he has always declined any official prizes from the Spanish government, whatever party is in power. This has been received very positively in Spain where many people have admired his integrity.

He gave a press release last afternoon thanking the jury for the honor of the award but very politely declined to accept it and suggested in his speech that the prize should be used to support the Spanish public libraries, whose budget for this year is 0.