Mario Vargas Llosa, born Jorge Mario Pedro Vargas Llosa on 28 March 1936 in Arequipa, is a renowned Peruvian writer who also holds Spanish citizenship since 1993 and Dominican citizenship since 2022. He is considered one of the most important novelists and essayists of contemporary times. His works have earned numerous prestigious awards, including the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2010, the Cervantes Prize in 1994, the Prince of Asturias Award in 1986, the Rómulo Gallegos Prize in 1967, and the Planeta Prize in 1993.

Vargas Llosa achieved fame in the 1960s with novels like The Time of the Hero (1963), The Green House (1966), and Conversation in The Cathedral (1969). He continued to write prolifically across various literary genres, including essays, articles, and theater. His notable novels also include The War of the End of the World (1981) and The Feast of the Goat (2000).

As a writer, Vargas Llosa is one of Latin America's most significant novelists and essayists, and a leading writer of his generation. Some critics regard him as having a larger international impact and worldwide audience than any other writer of the Latin American Boom. His works are influenced by his perception of Peruvian society and his experiences as a native Peruvian. He has expanded his range to tackle themes from various parts of the world, with several of his works adapted into films.

Politically active throughout his career, Vargas Llosa initially supported the Cuban revolutionary government, but became disenchanted with its policies. He identifies as a liberal and holds anti-left-wing views. He ran for the Peruvian presidency in 1990 but lost to Alberto Fujimori. After ceasing direct political involvement, he has supported center-right activists and candidates internationally.

In 2011, he was named the first Marquess of Vargas Llosa by King Juan Carlos I of Spain. In 2021, he was elected to the Académie française, the first member who has not written works in French, though fluent in the language. His selection was facilitated by the publication of his works by the prestigious Gallimard's La Pléiade collection during his lifetime.