Gabriel Garcia Marquez
The Colombian novelist was considered one of the most significant authors of the 20th century, and received the Nobel Price in in Literature 1982. One Hundred Years of Solitude is his most famous work, and chronicles several generations of the Buendia family in a fictionalized version of his home town.
Perhaps his second most popular work is Love in the Time of Cholera, often considered a non-traditional love story because the couple are in their golden years. It was inspired by a newspaper story about the death of two Americans who in their late 70s who met annually in Acapulco. Upon their murder it was discovered that they were married to other people.
Isabel Allende
Born in Peru, the Chilean writer, is known for her use of magical realism to tell the story of women. She has been inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters and has been awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The House of Spirits was inspired by a letter she began to her grandfather, hoping to keep him alive “at least in spirit.” A prolific writer, she recently published Violeta, a new epic set after the Great War.
Junot Diaz
The Brief Wonderous Life of Oscar Wao brought Diaz international acclaim. Originally from the Dominican Republic he centered the novel around the story of Oscar who while living in New Jersey aspires to become the J.R.R. Tokian of the Dominican Republic. A story of perseverance and the American experience, it is also a story of love.
Laura Esquival
Like Water for Chocolate has enchanted readers since its publication. Set during the Mexican Revolution of the early 20th century, the female protagonist’s life centers around food. Author Laura Esquivel’s use of magical realism has been compared to that of Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Isabel Allende.
Paulo Coelho
The Alchemist by Brazilian is the story of destiny. Coelho wrote it in two weeks, explaining that the “story was already written in his soul.” Originally published in Portuguese, it in an international bestseller, translated into many languages. The New York Times described it as more self-help than literature since the main character’s path is determined by his decision to pursue his dream, and eventually the universe conspires to make your wishes come true.
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