Leonard Cohen, 2011 Príncipe de Asturias for Literature

SPAIN (Agencies) The Prince of Asturias Prize is the highest civilian award Spain is able to give. This year's for Literature goes to songwriter, poet and novelist Leonard Cohen, 78, for "literary work that has influenced three generations," according to a statement from the jury. There were 32 candidates in this section; the finalists, aside from Leonard Cohen, were another Canadian, Alice Munro, and British novelist Ian McEwan. Cohen was also a candidate in the Arts section for his musical career, but this year's went to music director Riccardo Muti. Several prizes are yet to be decided but another one interesting to our readers is that awarded to Britain's Royal Society.