Ignacio
Padilla

Ignacio Padilla (November 7, 1968 – August 20, 2016)  was born in Mexico City in 1968. He studied media and literary studies in Mexico City, South Africa and Edinburgh and then completed a doctorate on Miguel de Cervantes in Salamanca in 1998. In the mid-nineties he worked as editorial director of the Mexican edition of »Playboy« magazine and wrote regular columns for the cultural supplement »Sábado«. He was cultural attaché at the Mexican Embassy in London from 2001 to 2003. Earlier this year Mexican President Felipe Calderón appointed him director of the José Vasconcelos library in Mexico City.

Padilla began his literary career writing short stories, the first of which were published in a volume entitled »Subterráneos« (1989; t: Subterranea), which received the Premio Alfonso Reyes. His first novel, »Imposibilidad de los cuervos« (1994; t: The impossibility of the crows), was awarded the Premio Juan Rulfo. In 1996 Padilla was among those who signed the »Manifesto Crack«, proclaiming the regeneration of Latin American literature and a break with Magical Realism. This manifesto received a mixed critical reception and led to the five young writers who had written it being considered as one »generation«, and to their works – as different as they were – always being viewed in this context.

Ignacio Padilla passed away on 20th August 2016, from a car accident.