María de la Almudena Grandes Hernández was a celebrated Spanish writer born on 7 May 1960 in Madrid. She authored 14 novels and three short-story collections. Her works have been translated into twenty languages and frequently adapted into films. She won several awards, including the National Literature Prize for Narrative and the Prix Méditerranée. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez regarded her as "one of the most important writers of our time."

Grandes studied Geography and History at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid and was married to the poet Luis García Montero. In 1989, she won the La Sonrisa Vertical prize with her erotic novel Las edades de Lulú, which was adapted into a movie by Bigas Luna. Her novels often explored the Spanish society of the late 20th and early 21st centuries, revealing hidden histories during Francisco Franco's dictatorship.

Her significant works include Te llamaré Viernes, Malena es un nombre de tango, Atlas de geografía humana, and the series Episodios de una Guerra Interminable. Almudena Grandes passed away on 27 November 2021, leaving behind a legacy celebrated by many, including numerous posthumous honors and tributes.