Is Manuel Vázquez Montalbán A-List?
NoB
No — Manuel Vázquez Montalbán is currently ranked B tier — a well-known figure with a strong career but not quite a household name.
Ranking Timeline
1969C$0.001M
First Pepe Carvalho Novel
Introduction of his famous detective character marked his breakthrough.
1972C$0.01M+$0.009000000000000001M
Journalistic Career Emerges
Became a prominent journalist.
1977B▲$0.05M+$0.04M
Political Activism Resurges
Political commentary.
1986B$0.2M+$0.15000000000000002M
Ramon Llull Prize
Catalan literature award.
1990B$0.5M+$0.3M
National Narrative Essay Prize
Essays.
1995B$0.8M+$0.30000000000000004M
European Literary Prize
His reach expanded across Europe.
2003B$1M+$0.19999999999999996M
Death in Bangkok
Montalban died in Bangkok, Thailand.
2026B$1M
Legacy as Intellectual
Montalban remains an important voice.
Last updated: February 25, 2026