Juan Gabriel Vásquez

Juan Gabriel Vásquez is a highly regarded Colombian writer, journalist, and translator. He is considered one of the most significant Latin American novelists currently working. Vásquez was born with a strong and incurable Anglophilia, which he attributes to his father's three-year stay in London while his uncle served as Colombia's ambassador to the United Kingdom.

Vásquez has written seven novels, two volumes of stories, and two books of literary essays. His works have earned him numerous accolades, including the Independent Foreign Fiction Prize, the Gregor von Rezzori Prize, and the Alfaguara Novel Prize. His novel "The Sound of Things Falling" was a finalist for the 2014 International Man Booker Prize.

Vásquez's writing is characterized by its exploration of themes such as history, memory, and identity. He often draws on his own experiences and those of his family to create complex and compelling narratives. His writing combines elements of both Colombian and European literary traditions, reflecting his unique cultural background.

In addition to his work as a writer, Vásquez is also an accomplished journalist and translator. He has written hundreds of pages of political commentary and has translated works by authors such as Victor Hugo, Joseph Conrad, and E.M. Forster into Spanish. Through his writing and translations, Vásquez has made significant contributions to the literary world and has established himself as one of the most important voices in Latin American literature.