[1] In 1965, the SPE, chaired by Jacinto do Prado Coelho, awarded the Novel Grand Prize to writer Luandino Vieira, who was then detained at Tarrafal for his activities as a member of the People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola.
The main newspapers in the country reported the award without realizing that the award-winning writer was a political prisoner.
[1] Following the awarding of the prize to Luandino Vieira, the SPE was dissolved by an order on May 21, 1965, from the Minister of National Education Inocêncio Galvão Teles.
That same night, its headquarters on Rua da Escola Politécnica in Lisbon was destroyed by unknown individuals.
Three members of the jury were arrested by the political police: Alexandre Pinheiro Torres, Manuel da Fonseca, and Augusto Abelaira.