Prince of Asturias Awards 1981–2014. Speeches

6 O viedo | C ampoamor T heatre | I have been writing stories for thirty-two years and have never wanted to be anything other than an author. I lost myself in books as a child, they were central to my existence, and my appreciation of their importance has only increased over time. Children need stories because they need to test their imaginations, try on other people’s ideas, inhabit other lives, send their minds where their bodies are not yet mature enough to go. No film, no television programme, no computer or video game can ever duplicate the magic that occurs when the reader’s imagination meets the author’s to create a unique, private kingdom. Joanne Kathleen Rowling — Prince of Asturias Award for Concord 2003 Excerpt from the speech given on the occasion of receiving the Prince of Asturias Award for Concord on 24/10/2003. 24 th O ctober 2003