José Lezama Lima (1910-1976) was one of the most important Cuban writers of the twentieth century. He was appointed director of the Department of Literature and Publications of the National Cultural Council after the ascension of the Castro regime, but later fell out of favor for the frank discussion of homosexuality and apolitical content of his masterpiece, Paradiso. A poet and novelist, his work has had a lasting influence on Cuban and world literature.
Gregory Rabassa is one of the most renowned translators of both Spanish and Portuguese literature. He has translated books by Gabriel García Márquez, Julio Cortázar, António Lobo Antunes, and Osman Lins, among many others.
Antonio Lobo Antunes, born in 1942, is the author of novels including "What Can I Do When Everything's On Fire?" and "Act of the Damned". He lives in Lisbon, Portugal.