Carlos Fuentes, born in Panama in 1928, was educated in schools in Mexico, the United States, and various cities of South America; he completed his university studies in both Mexico City and Geneva. A diplomat who served as Mexico's ambassador to France, he has received many awards for his writing. The author of more than twenty books, including The Old Gringo and Terra Nostra, he is recognized as one of the world's greatest living writers. He divides his time between Mexico City and London.