Nobel Prize-winning novelist Mario Vargas Llosa dies at 89

Mario Vargas Llosa, the celebrated Peruvian novelist and Nobel Prize laureate, passed away at the age of 89 in Lima, as confirmed by his family. Vargas Llosa was a pivotal figure in Latin America's literary 'boom' of the 1960s and 1970s, known for his works that blended gritty realism and political commentary, including seminal titles like 'The City and the Dogs' and 'The Feast of the Goat'. His family announced his death, stating he died peacefully surrounded by loved ones, and emphasized his remarkable life and extensive literary legacy, while noting that there will be no public memorial in accordance with his wishes. In recent months, he had withdrawn from public life due to health concerns, but continued to impact literature and political discourse until his final days. His conservative political views often set him apart from contemporaries, but his literary contributions have left an indelible mark on global literature. Vargas Llosa's body will be cremated, and his family hopes to find solace in his enduring body of work.