Samantha Schweblin

Samanta Schweblin developed a passion for literature early in her life, reading and writing often as a child. Schweblin attended the University of Buenos Aires, where she studied film design and developed a sophisticated understanding of storytelling. Schweblin’s literary career took off with her debut collection of short stories, Pájaros en la boca (2009), which won the Casa de las Américas Prize. The stories, characterized by their eerie atmospheres and psychological depth, established her as a significant voice in contemporary Latin American literature. The collection was later translated into English as Mouthful of Birds, which received critical acclaim and expanded her readership globally. Schweblin’s first novel, Distancia de Rescate (2014), translated into English as Fever Dream (2017), brought Schweblin widespread international recognition. The novel was shortlisted for the Man Booker International Prize in 2017, one of the most prestigious awards in the literary world. Following the success of Fever Dream, Schweblin published another collection of short stories, Siete casas vacías (2015), which also received critical acclaim. Her most recent novel, Kentukis (2018), translated as Little Eyes (2020), explores the invasive nature of technology and its surveillance capabilities. The novel was longlisted for the International Booker Prize, further solidifying Schweblin’s standing in the literary world. Schweblin’s works have been translated into numerous languages, making her one of the most prominent contemporary authors from Argentina. Schweblin currently resides in Berlin, where she continues to write.