Amparo Dávila, who was born in 1928 in Zacatecas, Mexico, is a renowned Mexican author known for her exploration of themes such as insanity, danger, and death in her work. Dávila was the sole surviving child of her parents, having lost her older brothers at childbirth, to meningitis, and during infancy. This early loss had a profound impact on Dávila, and fear became a recurring theme in her writing.
Dávila's love for reading began at an early age, thanks to her father's library, and her writing career started in 1950 with the publication of her first work, "Salmos bajo la luna" (Psalms under the Moon). This was followed by other successful publications such as "Meditaciones a la orilla del sueño" (Meditations on the Edge of Sleep) and "Perfil de soledades" (Profile of Solitudes). In 1954, Dávila moved to Mexico City, where she worked as Alfonso Reyes's Secretary. She later received a grant from the Centro Mexicano de Escritores (Mexican Writer's Center) in 1966, which allowed her to continue writing. In 2008, Dávila was recognized by el Palacio de Bellas Artes de Mexico (the palace of fine arts of Mexico) for her contributions to Mexican literature.
Dávila's writing is characterized by her use of female protagonists who often have mental disorders and exhibit violent behavior. These women are typically unable to escape from their mental issues and are haunted by the actions they have taken. Dávila also plays with ideas of time, using it as a symbol of that which we cannot change. Some of her most notable works include "Tiempo destrozado" (Shattered Time), "Música concreta" (Concrete Music), "Árboles petrificados" (Petrified Trees), and "Muerte en el bosque" (Death in the Forest).