Julio Cortázar, born Julio Florencio Cortázar, was an Argentine author of novels and short stories, who also took French nationality in protest against the military dictatorship in his home country. He is widely recognized as one of the founders of the Latin American Boom and has left a profound impact on an entire generation of Spanish-speaking readers and writers across America and Europe. Cortázar's work is celebrated for its innovation, originality, and his mastery over genres such as poetic prose and the short story.

With childhood and early adult years spent in Argentina, Cortázar moved to Europe in the 1950s, living in Italy, Spain, and Switzerland before settling in France. It was here that he wrote some of his most significant works. His novels, particularly Rayuela (Hopscotch), broke away from classical forms, introducing narratives that defied linear time and conventional structure. His stories often blur the line between reality and the fantastic, aligning him with movements such as surrealism and magical realism.

Cortázar's last visit to Argentina was in early December 1983, after which he returned to Paris and passed away in February 1984, likely due to leukemia.