The Government of Chile has declared official mourning this Monday, March 20, and Tuesday, March 21, following the sad passing of writer Jorge Edwards Valdés. The period of mourning adheres to public sentiment, which deems it important to honor the work, career and memory of such an outstanding writer and diplomat.
The Government has therefore ordered that the national flag be raised to half-mast at the headquarters of the executive, legislative and judicial branches, public offices and departments, and facilities of the Armed Forces, Carabineros de Chile (uniformed police service) and Policía de Investigaciones de Chile (investigative police service).
National Literature Prize
Jorge Edwards achieved numerous awards and distinctions for his extensive and outstanding literary work. Alongside the National Literature Prize, these include the Santiago Municipal Literature Prize (1962), Pedro de Oña Prize (1969), Guggenheim Scholarship (1979), Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters, France (1985), Cervantes Prize (1999), Planeta-Casa de América Prize (2008) and Grand Cross of the Civil Order of Alfonso X the Wise (2016).
During his diplomatic career, he served as secretary at the Chilean Embassy in Paris (1962), head of the Department for Eastern Europe in Santiago (1967), Chargé d’Affaires in Cuba (1971) and Chilean Ambassador to France (2010 to 2014).