Mario Vargas Llosa, the renowned Peruvian author and Nobel Prize winner in Literature, passed away on April 13, 2025, at the age of 89. His family confirmed the news, marking the end of an era for Latin America’s literary “golden generation.”
In a message posted on social media, his eldest son, Alvaro Vargas Llosa, wrote, “It is with deep sorrow that we announce that our father, Mario Vargas Llosa, passed away peacefully in Lima today, surrounded by his family,” a statement also signed by his siblings, Gonzalo and Morgana Vargas Llosa.
Vargas Llosa was born into a middle-class family in Peru and was a leading figure in the Latin American literary “boom” of the 1960s and 1970s, alongside figures like Colombia’s Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Argentina’s Julio Cortázar. Rumors about his declining health had circulated in recent months, and he had largely withdrawn from the public eye.
His son Alvaro noted in October that his father was “on the verge of turning 90” and had begun to slow down his activities. The family expressed their sorrow, adding, “While we mourn, we take comfort in knowing that he lived a long, adventurous, and fruitful life, and leaves behind a remarkable body of work that will outlast him.”
In keeping with his wishes, no public ceremony will be held. “Our mother, children, and ourselves ask for privacy during this time to say our farewells among family and close friends,” the family statement read. Vargas Llosa’s body will be cremated as per his wishes.
Tributes from around the world poured in after the announcement of his passing. Peruvian President Dina Boluarte shared on social media, “His intellectual genius and vast body of work will remain an enduring legacy for future generations.” Former Colombian President Alvaro Uribe described Vargas Llosa as a “Master of Masters,” while U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau praised his universal themes, stating that Vargas Llosa’s works would continue to live on in bookshelves across Latin America and beyond.
Vargas Llosa celebrated his 89th birthday in March 2025 and had recently posted images of himself in the locations where he wrote his last two novels, Cinco Esquinas (2016) and Le Dedico Mi Silencio (2023). His literary contributions, including La Ciudad y los Perros (“The City and the Dogs”) and Conversación en la Catedral (“Conversation in the Cathedral”), were widely praised for their vivid portrayal of social realities, although some South American intellectuals criticized his conservative views.
Vargas Llosa’s works have been translated into approximately 30 languages. He was also a Francophile, having lived in Paris for many years, and in 2016, he became the first foreign author to be included in the prestigious Pleiade literary collection during his lifetime. In 2021, he was named to France’s Academy of Prominent Intellectuals.
Vargas Llosa’s passing leaves a deep void in the world of literature, but his legacy will undoubtedly endure through his influential body of work.
