Renowned Chilean writer, Jorge Edwards, passed away on March 17, 2023, in Madrid at the age of 91. Edwards was a celebrated author who won the Cervantes Prize in 1999 for his contributions to literature. A close friend of Pablo Neruda, Edwards’ book, “Persona non grata,” narrates his disillusionment with the Cuban revolution. His son confirmed that his father would be cremated in Spain on Sunday.

Edwards was born in Santiago, Chile, in 1931, and studied law at the University of Chile before getting his postgraduate degree at Princeton University in the United States. He worked as a career diplomat between 1957 and 1973 in Paris, Lima, and Havana, which marked him especially.

In 1971, Edwards spent three months in Cuba to open the Chilean embassy on behalf of the government of Salvador Allende. His experience as a diplomat and writer allowed him to gain a different perspective on life on the island, one that was different from the official version.

Mexican essayist Enrique Krauze remembers Edwards as an exceptional novelist, brave essayist, and journalist aware of all the layers of today. He will undoubtedly be missed for his vitality and moral stature. Edwards’ passing is a significant loss to the literary world, but his contributions will continue to inspire generations to come.