Leonardo Padura was born in Havana, Cuba, in 1955. A novelist, journalist, and critic, he is the author of several novels, two volumes of short stories, and several nonfiction collections. His novels featuring the detective Mario Conde have been translated into many languages and have won literary prizes around the world. "The Man Who Loved Dogs" was a finalist for the Book of the Year Award in Spain. Padura lives in Havana.