Jorge Luis Borges

Awards & Honours

Awards Won

Honours

Rankings

Covers

Records

Borges stands as one of the most influential literary figures of the 20th century. His work redefined the boundaries of short fiction and essay writing, introducing concepts that would become central to postmodern thought. He was the first Latin American author to receive the International Formentor Prize, breaking barriers for writers from the region. His collection Ficciones is consistently ranked among the most important books ever written, influencing giants like Gabriel García Márquez and J.M. Coetzee. The sheer breadth of his impact, from magical realism to speculative fiction, cements his status as a literary titan whose ideas continue to resonate decades after his death.

AwardsBorges received numerous honors throughout his career. He was awarded the International Formentor Prize in 1961, shared with Samuel Beckett, and the Miguel de Cervantes Prize in 1979, the highest honor in Spanish-language literature. He also received the Premio Nacional de Literatura in Argentina in 1961. Additionally, he was named a Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters by the French government and received an honorary knighthood (KBE) from the British monarchy. His name appears on countless "Greatest of All Time" lists, with Ficciones frequently cited as one of the most influential books of the 20th century.

Honours & Distinctions

Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters

French Government·1979

Recognized for his contributions to literature and culture.

Honorary Knight Commander (KBE)

British Monarchy·1979

Awarded for services to literature.

Honorary Doctorate

University of Buenos Aires·1955

Recognition of his academic and literary achievements.

Honorary Doctorate

Harvard University·1967

Acknowledgment of his global literary influence.

Honorary Doctorate

Oxford University·1980

Recognition of his contributions to world literature.

Rankings & Lists

#10

100 Greatest Writers of All Time

Rolling Stone·2015

#12

100 Most Important Figures of the Century

TIME Magazine·1999

Magazine Covers

Time

1967-05-01

The Rise of Borges

The New Yorker

1979-03-15

The Library of Babel Excerpt

Records & Feats

Most Influential Short Story Collection of the 20th Century

Literary Impact·1944

Ficciones is widely considered one of the most influential books of the 20th century, shaping genres from magical realism to postmodernism.

First Latin American Winner of the International Formentor Prize

Historic First·1961

Borges was the first Latin American author to share this prestigious award, paving the way for the Latin American Boom.