Marta Platel wins Fernando Lara Prize for historical novel

Author Marta Platel has won the 2026 Fernando Lara Novel Prize for her historical fiction work, ‘El baile de las criadas’. The novel aims to reclaim historical memory by focusing on perspectives that have traditionally remained on the margins of historical narratives.

Platel explores the deep connections between the Francoist regime and Nazi Germany during the early 1940s. She highlights the presence of Nazi colonies in major Spanish cities such as Barcelona, Madrid, Zaragoza, and Bilbao, noting that these communities often settled around German consulates.

The work depicts how high-ranking Nazi officials visited Spain and participated in public celebrations. For instance, the novel portrays a 1941 event at the Teatro Coliseum celebrating the 52nd anniversary of Adolf Hitler, attended by prominent figures of the Francoist era.