Gabriel García Márquez was a Colombian novelist, short-story writer, screenwriter, and journalist. Affectionately known as "Gabo" throughout Latin America, García Márquez is considered one of the most significant authors of the 20th century. He received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1982.

He pursued a self-directed education, ultimately leaving law school for a career in journalism. García Márquez was known for his fearless critique of Colombian and foreign politics. In 1958, he married Mercedes Barcha Pardo, and they had two sons, Rodrigo and Gonzalo. Additionally, García Márquez had a daughter named Indira with Mexican writer Susana Cato.

García Márquez started his career as a journalist, writing acclaimed non-fiction works and short stories. He is best known for novels such as One Hundred Years of Solitude (1967), Chronicle of a Death Foretold (1981), and Love in the Time of Cholera (1985). His works are celebrated for popularizing magic realism, a style that blends magical elements with realistic situations. Many of his stories are set in the fictional village of Macondo, often exploring the theme of solitude.

Upon his passing in April 2014, Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos referred to García Márquez as "the greatest Colombian who ever lived."