Julio Cortázar, born to Argentine parents in Belgium in 1914, was a novelist, poet, and playwright. Throughout his childhood, Cortázar relocated with his family across Europe due to World War I. The Cortázars eventually settled in Buenos Aires in 1919. Cortázar suffered from childhood sicknesses that often left him bedridden. He spent much of his time reading, and it was during this period of his life that he developed an affection for science fiction and fantasy—genres that would impact much of his writing.

Fueled by his frustration with Juan Perón’s presidency in Argentina and the economic uncertainties that came of Perón’s administration, Cortázar relocated to Paris in 1951. Paris, and the experience of living as an immigrant, both feature heavily in Cortázar’s fiction. His stories often center estrangement, the loss of identity, and the desire for connection as central themes. Despite his residency in France, Cortázar remained invested in Latin American politics. He was engaged with the social upheavals in Cuba, Nicaragua, Argentina, and Chile throughout the middle of the 20th century.  

Cortázar penned a diverse body of work, including short fiction collections, four novels, poetry, drama, and nonfiction. He also translated English language work by Daniel Defoe, Edgar Allan Poe, and others into Spanish.