Chilean author Isabel Allende has been awarded the 2026 Planeta Prize for her novel 'The Hour Before Dawn,' which serves as a sequel to her classic work 'The House of the Spirits.' In an interview with El Pais, Allende stated that the urgency to write this continuation increased due to the current global rise of authoritarianism and threats to democracy. She warned against both extreme right and extreme left ideologies, arguing that authoritarianism exacerbates societal problems rather than solving them. The narrative shifts from the magical realism of the original book to a more realistic depiction of fascism, torture, and social inequality under dictatorship. Allende also commented on modern issues such as AI-driven polarization and the widening gap between the wealthy elite and the general population.
Bias read (Progressive): The article frames the literary award through a lens of anti-authoritarianism and democratic defense, explicitly quoting the author’s warning against extremism while emphasizing the dangers of right-wing populism and billionaire influence.




