Ernesto Sábato (June 24, 1911 – April 30, 2011) was an Argentine novelist, essayist, painter, and physicist. He was born in Rojas, a small town in Buenos Aires Province. Sábato earned a PhD in physics at the Universidad Nacional de La Plata and continued his studies at the Sorbonne in Paris, working at the Curie Institute. After World War II, his interests shifted from science to writing.

Sábato's literary work includes three novels: El Túnel (1948), Sobre héroes y tumbas (1961), and Abaddón el exterminador (1974). His debut novel, El Túnel, received critical acclaim from noted writers such as Albert Camus and Thomas Mann. His second novel is often regarded as his masterpiece. Alongside his novels, Sábato was known for his essays on diverse topics, including metaphysics, politics, and tango, which earned him numerous international prizes.

Politically, he was appointed by President Raúl Alfonsín to chair the CONADEP Commission, which investigated the forced disappearances during Argentina's Dirty War of the 1970s. The findings were published in a report titled Nunca Más (Never Again). Sábato's influence extended throughout Latin America and he is remembered as one of the last classic writers in Argentine literature.