(Peru, 1954) He has published novels in very different styles, his work can be classified within the Peruvian realist movement and has been translated into twenty languages. He has been editor of Debate and editor of the Sunday edition of the newspaper El Comercio. He has also worked as a journalist and university lecturer. In 2009 he was elected member of the Peruvian Academy of Language. His works include El tigre blanco (1985, Premio Viracocha), Grandes miradas (2003, adapted to the big screen by Francisco Lombardi), La hora azul (Premio Herralde 2005, adapted into a film by Evelyne Pegot Ogier), El susurro de la mujer ballena (Premio Planeta-Casa de América 2007), Juan Carlos Onetti: El soñador en la penumbra (2010), El árbol del tesoro (2011), Cuerpos secretos (2012), La pasajera (2015, adapted to film by Salvador del Solar), La viajera del viento (2016), Palabras de otro lado (2019, Juan Goytisolo Novel Prize), Otras caricias (2021) and the journal Los años (2023). In 2010 he was honoured at the Lima International Book Fair. He also received the German Anna Seghers Prize for his work as a whole and the journal Antípodas of the University of Sydney has published a monograph on his work. His most recent work is Francisca. Princesa del Perú (2023).
Photo: © Richard Hirano