Horacio Silvestre Quiroga Forteza was a prolific Uruguayan playwright, poet, and short story writer renowned for his captivating tales set in the jungle. His unique narrative style often incorporates elements of the supernatural and the bizarre to depict the relentless struggle of both man and animal for survival.

Quiroga's exceptional ability to portray mental illness and hallucinatory states has drawn comparisons to the Gothic sensibilities of American writer Edgar Allan Poe. His storytelling prowess has left a lasting impact, influencing the Latin American magical realism of Gabriel García Márquez and the postmodern surrealism of Julio Cortázar.