Julian Barnes, the acclaimed British author, will receive the Princess of Asturias Award for Literature on October 23, 2026, becoming only the second Briton to do so. In a recent interview, he hinted that his upcoming novel 'Despedidas' may be his last in the fiction genre, although he plans to continue writing in other forms. Barnes, who has battled a diagnosis of manageable blood cancer, is celebrated for his unique blend of fiction and essay in literature.