Mempo Giardinelli was born in Resistencia, Argentina, in 1947. A writer and journalist, he is the author of several novels, short story collections, and nonfiction books. He was also a founder of the literary magazine Puro cuento. His novels have been translated into all major languages and have received awards including the 1983 Mexican National Prize for the Novel and the 1993 Rómulo Gallegos Prize.