Juan Gabriel Vásquez (Bogotá, 1973) is the author of the two books of short stories Los amantes de Todos los Santos and Canciones para el incendio (Biblioteca de Narrativa Colombiana Prize), and six novels: The Informers, The Secret History of Costaguana, El ruido de las cosas al caer (The Sound of Things Falling) (Alfaguara 2011, Gregor von Rezzori-Città di Firenze Prize 2013, IMPAC International Dublin Literary Award 2014), Reputations (Royal Spanish Academy Prize 2014, Casa de Amèrica Latina de Lisboa Priza 2016), The Shape of Ruins (Casino de Póvoa Prize and finalist for the Man Booker International Prize) and Retrospective (Mario Vargas Llosa Biennial Prize). He has also published two books of literary essays, El arte de la distorsión and Viajes con un mapa blanco, a collection of political articles, Los desacuerdos de paz, and a collection of poems, Cuaderno de septiembre and his most recent Feliza's Names. In 2012 he received the Prix Roger Caillois and has twice won the Simón Bolívar National Journalism Prize. He has translated works by Joseph Conrad and Victor Hugo into Spanish. His books are currently published in 30 languages.
Photo: © Sam Hardwick