Italo Giovanni Calvino Mameli, better known as Italo Calvino, was an Italian writer and journalist born on 15 October 1923 in Santiago de Las Vegas, Provincia de La Habana, and passed away on 19 September 1985 in Siena. Calvino's work is diverse and spans multiple genres, making him one of the most significant figures in Italian literature. His best-known works include the Our Ancestors trilogy (1952–1959), the Cosmicomics collection of short stories (1965), and the novels Invisible Cities (1972) and If on a winter's night a traveler (1979).

Admired internationally, Calvino became the most translated contemporary Italian writer by the time of his death. He is remembered for his remarkable ability to blend fantastical fairy tales with more realistic, observational scenes. While some of his works are labeled as postmodern, reflecting on literature and the act of reading, others have been identified with magical realism or fables, showcasing his versatility as a writer. Calvino is buried in the garden cemetery of Castiglione della Pescaia in Tuscany, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire and captivate readers around the world.