Ariel Dorfman is a Chilean expatriate whose works include the acclaimed memoir Heading South, Looking North; the novels The Last Song of Manuel Sendero, Konfidenz and Widows; and the play Death and the Maiden, which was made into a film by Roman Polanski. Dorfman's plays have been performed in more than 100 countries, and he is the recipient of numerous international awards in drama and literature. Dorfman contributes to major newspapers worldwide and is a distinguished professor at Duke University. He lives with his wife in Durham, North Carolina.