The Education and Culture Ministry and the Fundaci?n Corripio announced yesterday that writer-poet Mariano Lebr?n Savi?on is the 1999 winner of the National Literature Prize. Announced by Foundation Vice President Jos? Luis Corripio at a press conference, the award won a unanimous decision by the judges. Corripio also announced that beginning this year, the prize will rise from RD$200,000 to RD$300,000. The formal award ceremony will be held in February. Lebr?n Savi?on has written many works of poetry and books about Dominican culture. Among his works are "Tri?logo" (1943), "Son?mbulo sin sue?o" (1944), "Luces del Tr?pico" (1949), "Historia de la Cultura Dominicana" (5 volumes, 1981-82), and "Tiempo en la Tierra" (1982). He is President of the Dominican Academy of Letters and a medical professor at Universidad Nacional Pedro Henr?quez Ure?a (UNPHU). Past winners of the Prize have included Juan Bosch, Joaqu?n Balaguer, Manuel del Cabral, Pedro Mir, Manuel Rueda, Antonio Fern?ndez Sp?ncer, Marcio Veloz Maggiolo and Virgilio D?az Grull?n.
