Renowned Peruvian writer and Nobel laureate in literature, Mario Vargas Llosa, has passed away at the age of 89, his family announced on Sunday. His death marks the end of an era for Latin America's literary golden generation, which included titans such as Gabriel García Márquez, Pablo Neruda, and Jorge Luis Borges.
“It is with deep sorrow that we announce that our father, Mario Vargas Llosa, passed away peacefully in Lima today, surrounded by his family,” his eldest son, Álvaro, wrote in a message on X, co-signed by siblings Gonzalo and Morgana Vargas Llosa.
A central figure of the Latin American literary boom of the 1960s and 1970s, Vargas Llosa was widely celebrated for his richly detailed portrayals of social and political life in Latin America. He rose to prominence alongside contemporaries such as Colombia’s Gabriel García Márquez and Argentina’s Julio Cortázar.
In recent months, rumors about Vargas Llosa’s declining health had circulated, as he had largely retreated from public life. In October, his son Álvaro acknowledged the writer’s slowing pace: “He’s on the verge of turning 90—an age when one must reduce the intensity of activities a bit.”
The family’s statement noted the global impact of Vargas Llosa’s death. “His passing will sadden his relatives, friends, and readers around the world,” they wrote. “But we hope they will take comfort, as we do, in knowing he lived a long, adventurous, and fruitful life, leaving behind a body of work that will endure.”
No Public Ceremony
In line with his wishes, no public ceremony will be held. The family requested privacy to mourn. “Our mother, our children, and ourselves trust that we will have the space and privacy to bid him farewell in the company of family and close friends,” the statement added. Vargas Llosa’s body will be cremated, also per his instructions.
In Lima, small gatherings of admirers formed near his home to pay tribute. “I didn’t believe it when I heard,” said Gustavo Ruiz, a devoted reader, speaking to RPP radio. “I came to his house since there will be no wake.”
David Marreros, a 30-year-old visual artist, told AFP: “He showed that it’s possible to live doing what you’re passionate about.”
A Literary Giant Remembered
Tributes poured in from around the world. Peruvian President Dina Boluarte called him an “illustrious Peruvian for the ages,” writing on X: “His intellectual genius and enormous body of work will remain an enduring legacy for future generations.”
Former Colombian President Álvaro Uribe hailed him as a “Master of Masters,” saying, “He leaves us a path for the future.”
Fellow Peruvian writer Alfredo Bryce Echenique described Vargas Llosa’s death as “a sorrow for Peru,” while U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau noted, “To label him as just Peruvian would be a disservice. His themes and interests were timeless and universal.”
Vargas Llosa had moved back to Lima last year and celebrated his 89th birthday on March 28. In a post days earlier, his son Álvaro shared photos of him at various locations in Lima where he penned his final two novels: Cinco Esquinas (Five Corners, 2016) and Le Dedico Mi Silencio (I Dedicate My Silence to You, 2023).
Vargas Llosa’s early works, including La Ciudad y los Perros (The Time of the Hero, 1963) and Conversación en la Catedral (Conversation in the Cathedral, 1969), were praised for their stark realism and political critique. Over the decades, his conservative political views drew criticism from some fellow South American intellectuals.
His works have been translated into over 30 languages. A lifelong Francophile, he lived in Paris for several years and, in 2016, became the first foreign writer inducted into France’s prestigious Pléiade literary collection during his lifetime. In 2021, he was elected to the French Academy.
Mario Vargas Llosa leaves behind a legacy of profound intellectual influence and a literary catalog that will resonate across generations.
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