The Chilean writer Ramón Díaz Eterovic was announced this Monday, September 22, as the winner of the National Literature Prize, a decision communicated by the Ministry of Cultures, Arts and Heritage after the jury session at the Pereira Palace.
The distinction recognizes a sustained trajectory and the consolidation of a unique narrative universe, embodied in the Detective Heredia, a key figure in local crime fiction. The announcement comes as part of the resumed annual periodicity of the award, which alternates between narrative and poetry, and succeeds the poet Elvira Hernandez, awarded in the last edition.
Who he is and why his work matters
Born in Punta Arenas In 1956, Díaz Eterovic moved to Santiago in 1974 to study Political and Administrative Sciences at the Universidad de Chile, where he earned a degree in public administration and studied literature. Since then, his name has been associated with a narrative police force with its own stamp, which engages with the country's recent history.
His most famous character, the Detective Heredia, burst onto the scene in the late 80s and became a symbol of the genre in Chile. The saga, which began with The City Is Sad (1987), inspired a television adaptation on TVN (Heredia and associates, 2005), with Claudio Arredondo in the leading role, as well as forays into comics and other formats.
Díaz Eterovic's production is extensive: 22 novels published in Chile and 33 abroad; 12 short story collections, 4 poetry collections, 7 children's and young adult fiction collections; 2 essays, 1 graphic novel, and 10 of her own anthologies. Her work appears in 57 anthologies, has 3 audiobooks and has participated in 38 international meetings in America, Europe, and Asia. It has been translated into 10 languages (English, German, French, Italian, Greek, Croatian, Portuguese, Chinese, Danish and Russian).
In addition to his creative work, he has contributed to making contemporary Chilean narrative visible. Along with Diego Munoz He coordinated anthologies such as Telling the Story and Walking with Stories, and received support from the Patagonia Cultural Network and various voices from the literary world that supported his nomination.
The jury's decision and the details of the award
The jury consisted of Carolina Arredondo (Minister of Cultures), Rosa Deves (Rector of the University of Chile), Elvira Hernandez (National Literature Prize 2024), José Antonio Guzmán (Rector of the University of the Andes, representing the Council of Rectors), María Eugenia Góngora (Chilean Academy of Language) and the writers Pía Barros y Paul Simonetti —the latter participated telematically.
In its argument, the committee highlighted that the author's work interweaves intrigue, memory and social criticism, with a notable structural richness and a perspective closely linked to the Chilean experience of recent decades. The minutes also highlight the combination of ethical reflection and critical view as distinctive features.
The announcement was made in the Pereira Palace with the presence of the writer himself. The recognition includes a diploma, an amount of around 23 million pesos (adjusted annually according to the CPI) and a lifetime pension equivalent to 20 UTM per month.
This is the first year that the award is presented in a consecutiva after the regulatory update that reinstated its annual periodicity, alternating specialties. The minister emphasized that the decision responds to a coherent trajectory already a narrative voice that has contributed its own register to national literature.
A genre to read in Chile: impact and reactions
Upon hearing the verdict, the author —of 69 years— expressed his excitement at joining the list of award winners, which includes figures such as Manuel Rojas, Carlos Droguett y Francisco ColoaneHe thanked his family, colleagues, and readers who followed the process for their support.
Díaz Eterovic has argued that his work helped to reinstall the crime novel in Chile since the 80s, not only because of the number of authors who write it, but also because of the breadth of topics covered. In his opinion, the crime novel has become a privileged vehicle to narrate the social history of the country, from the dictatorial period to the present day.
From the academy, specialized voices have highlighted that his narrative transcends the limits of the genre to examine corruption, memory and injustice, with Heredia as an observer of the city of Santiago. The figure of the detective—with his nocturnal world and irony as his trademark—allows us to connect past and present through mystery.
Institutions and publishers have valued its international expansion and consistency: presence in multiple countries, translations into ten languages and previous recognitions such as the Anna Seghers Award (1987), the National Book and Reading Council Award (1995) or The Two Shores of the Ibero-American Book Fair in Gijón (2000). Universidad de Chile He also emphasized his connection as a graduate, and the Ministry disseminated the ruling through its official channels.
With this recognition, the career of the creator of the Detective Heredia It is situated in the center of the Chilean literary map: a prolific, translated and studied work, which combines intrigue and social criticism without losing sight of the ethical questions that run through contemporary narrative.