in 1990. The second edition of the novel "Marele singuratic" had appeared in 1976, and in 1977 he published "Viața ca o pradă" (Life as a Prey), a comprehensive autobiographical novel whose main theme is the crystallization of an artist's conscience. In 1980, Marin Preda published his last novel, Cel mai iubit dintre pământeni ("The Most Beloved of Earthlings"), regarded as a violent critique of communism. After a few short weeks on the market, the novel was withdrawn from all public, university, and school libraries, as well as all bookshops. An eyewitness stated that in 1970, Preda had told President Nicolae Ceaușescu: "If you want to introduce socialist realism, I, Marin Preda, will commit suicide." But the author had never publicly criticized socialist realism and never doubted the legitimacy of the communist regime. Personal life In 1955, Preda married the poet Aurora Cornu. Their love letters were published posthumously. They divorced in 1959. He then Eta Vexler, who later immigrated to France in the early 1970s, ending their marriage. Preda married a third time, to Elena Mitev. The couple had two sons, Nicolae and Alexandru. Between 1975 and 1980 he lived in Bucharest at Strada Pictor Alexandru Romano no. 21; the home now displays a plaque dedicated to the author. Awards Preda was awarded the Second Class Star Order of the Socialist Republic of Romania (1971) "for special merits in the work of building socialism, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Romanian Communist Party establishment". Preda's novel Moromeții was awarded the State Prize for Literature in 1956. Death On 16 May 1980, Preda died suddenly at the Writers' Mansion of Mogoșoaia Palace. The autopsy, which took place 24 hours after his death, showed that his blood alcohol concentration was 3.5 BAC, enough to fall into a coma. The official cause of death was asphixiation. His family maintains that his sudden death was related to the publication of the novel Cel mai iubit dintre pământeni and occurred in suspicious circumstances. According to the forensic report, "Marin Preda's death was violent and was due to mechanical asphyxia by clogging the airways with a soft object, possibly a bed linen, in an alcoholic coma". Marin Preda was buried in the Writers' Alley in Bellu Cemetery. Tributes to Marin Preda A lyceum of Bucharest is called after his name, Liceul Teoretic "Marin Preda". A lyceum of Odorheiu Secuiesc is called after