Mario Benedetti

The poet, story-teller, and journalist Mario Benedetti was born in 1920, in Paso de los Toros, Uruguay, but spent his early childhood in a nearby town called Tacuarembó. At the age of eight he was enrolled as a pupil at Montevideo's German College, where he learned to speak German and acquired a solid cultural background. Benedetti is a friendly man who, in his dealings with other people, is warm and, in spite of his popularity, humble.

At times, his poetry is conversational and experimental and, at others, it is close to prose. In both cases, however, it is capable of inspiring emotion among readers of all ages. In recognition of his poetic work, in 1999 he received the Queen Sofia Prize, one of Spain's most prestigious literary awards. Many of his poems have been set to music and have been recorded by singers of great renown, increasing his popularity not only in his native country but also throughout Latin America and Spain..

His short stories and novels, such as El hombre que aprendió a ladrar. deal with the common man and his everyday joys and sorrows. Now in his eighties, Benedetti continues to write on a daily basis and is full of literary projects.