The Aurelio Espinosa Pólit National Prize for Literature, named after the Ecuadorian writer (1894-1961), is a prestigious literary award presented annually by the School of Language and Literature at the Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador. It recognizes outstanding Ecuadorian writers in the categories of poetry, nonfiction, short story, novel, and play, making it one of the most significant literary prizes in the country, along with the Eugenio Espejo Prize.
Rules
The Aurelio Espinosa Pólit National Prize for Literature is awarded annually to Ecuadorian writers by the School of Language and Literature of the Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador. Each year, a panel of judges selects a genre for the award, which includes poetry, nonfiction, short story, novel, and play. If none of the entries meet the requirements for the award, no winner is declared. The award can only be won once in a specific category, but a writer can win it in a different category. The award was not given in 1998 due to the School setting new award rules. In total, there have been ten occasions where no winner was declared, with five of those instances being in the play category.
| Year | Genre | Author | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Nonfiction | Josué Augusto Durán Hermida | Minutas de bulla (published as El abandono de la experiencia) |
| 2018 | Short Story | Alexis Zaldumbide | Habitaciones con música de fondo |
| 2017 | Novel | Roberto Ramírez Paredes | No somos tu clase de gente |
| 2016 | Poetry | Andrea Crespo | Registro de La Habitada |
| 2015 | Nonfiction | Santiago Peña Bossano | Estética de la indolencia |
| 2014 | Novel | Luis Borja Corral | Pequeños palacios en el pecho |
| 2013 | Short Story | Ana Estrella Santos | La curiosidad mató al alemán |
| 2012 | Poetry | Marcelo Báez | El mismo mar de todas Las Habanas |
| 2011 | Play | No winner | |
| 2010 | Nonfiction | María Helena Barrera | Merton y Ecuador-La búsqueda del país secreto |
| 2009 | Novel | Hans Behr | Acaso si lloviesen. |
| 2008 | Short Story | Elking Araujo | Al pie de la letra |
| 2007 | Poetry | Carlos Vallejo | La orilla transparente |
| 2006 | Play | No winner | |
| 2005 | Novel | Lucrecia Maldonado | Salvo el calvario |
| 2004 | Short Story | Gabriela Fernández Argüello | La noche de Eva |
| 2003 | Play | Roberto Sánchez Cazar | Que no haya pena |
| 2002 | Poetry | Paúl Puma | Felipe Guamán Poma de Ayala |
| 2001 | Nonfiction | Cristina Burneo | El sueño de Pierre Menard |
| 2000 | Novel | Marcelo Lalama Basante | Los Nazarenos |
| 1999 | Short Story | Raúl Vallejo | Huellas de amor eterno |
| 1998 | The School of Language and Literature did not award the prize in 1998 as it convened to set new award rules. | ||
| 1997 | No winner | ||
| 1996 | Poetry | No winner | |
| 1995 | Play | No winner | |
| 1994 | Novel | No winner | |
| 1993 | Short Story | Huilo Ruales Hualca | Fetiche y Fantoche |
| 1992 | Play | No winner | |
| 1991 | Poetry | Jorge Martillo | Fragmentarium |
| 1990 | Short Story | Juan Manuel Rodríguez López | Fricciones |
| 1989 | Novel | Natasha Salguero | Azulinaciones |
| 1988 | Poetry | No winner | |
| 1987 | Play | Eliécer Cárdenas | Morir en Vilcabamba |
| 1986 | Novel | No winner | |
| 1985 | Short Story | Rafael Díaz Ycaza | Prometeo el joven y otras marisquetas |
| 1984 | Play | No winner | |
| 1983 | Poetry | Iván Carvajal | Parajes |
| 1982 | Nonfiction | No winner | |
| 1981 | Novel | No winner | |
| 1980 | Short Story | Jorge Dávila Vázquez | Este mundo es el camino |
| 1979 | Poetry | Julio Pazos Barrera | La ciudad de las visiones |
| 1978 | Play | Carlos Benavides Vega | La herida de Dios |
| 1977 | No winner | ||
| 1976 | Novel | Jorge Dávila Vázquez | María Joaquina en la vida y en la muerte |
| 1975 | Novel | Iván Égüez | La Linares |