Antonio Skármeta (Antofagasta, Chile, 1940 - Santiago, Chile, 2023) was one of the most prominent writers in Latin American literature. Graduated in Philosophy and Literature from the University of Chile and Columbia University in New York, his work has been translated into more than twenty-five languages, establishing him as a key figure in contemporary narrative. His most famous novel, El cartero de Neruda, gained worldwide fame and was adapted into a film, earning five Oscar nominations and unanimous praise from critics and audiences.
Skármeta received numerous accolades throughout his career. He was honored as a Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters by France, Commander by Italy, and received the Goethe Medal from Germany. Among his literary awards are the Prix Médicis and the Grinzane Cavour for La boda del poeta, the Elsa Morante Prize for La chica del trombón, and the International Boccaccio Prize for No pasó nada. Additionally, his album La Composición, illustrated by Alfonso Ruano, won the Unesco World Prize for Children's Literature. In 2003, his novel El baile de la victoria won the Planeta Prize, and in 2014 he was awarded the Chilean National Literature Prize. Skármeta also served as the Chilean ambassador to Germany from 2000 to 2003, dedicating himself afterwards entirely to literature. His last novel, Un padre de película, was enthusiastically received by critics, who highlighted its exquisite simplicity and depth.
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