Rafael Chirbes was born in Spain in 1949.

His first novel Mimoun (1988) was followed by a series of novels tackling the Franco regime and its aftermath: Los disparos del cazador, La buena letra, La larga marcha, and La caída de Madrid.

His most recent book, Los viejos amigos, reflects upon the end of the Civil War generation and their ideals. Rafael Chirbes also writes travel reports for a gourmet food magazine.

He lives in a village between Valencia and Alicante.