Matute

Matute is a surname of Spanish origin that is borne by a number of individuals in Spain and in other Spanish-speaking regions. It appears across various fields, including culture, academia, and public life, reflecting the historical spread of Spanish naming conventions through migration and settlement.

Ana María Matute (1925–2014) was a prominent Spanish novelist and short-story writer. Her work often delved into themes of childhood, memory, social exclusion, and the lasting effects of war. Notable novels and collections include Primera memoria (1959), Los soldados lloran de noche (1964), and Olvidado Rey Gudú (1996). Matute received numerous honors for her contributions to literature, culminating in the Premio Cervantes in 2010, the most prestigious literary prize in the Spanish-speaking world. Her writing is recognized for its social sensitivity, mythic imagery, and attention to the lives of ordinary people, particularly children and marginalized communities.