Jorge Luis Borges was born in Buenos Aires on 24 August 1899. He was an Argentine short-story writer, essayist, poet and translator. His best-known books, Fictions and The Aleph, published in the 1940s, are compilations of short stories interconnected by common themes, including dreams, labyrinths, philosophy, libraries, mirrors, fictional writers, and mythology. Borges’ works have been considered by some critics to mark the beginning of the magic realist movement in 20th century Latin American literature. In 1961, he came to international attention when he received the first Formentor prize, which he shared with Samuel Beckett.
In 1986 Borges took a trip to Montmorillon with a view to exploring the famously transient labyrinth hidden in the gardens of the Maison Dieu and reputed to provide a home for the dragon La Grande Goule, exiled from Poitiers and cared for by Theseus and Ariadne Nemo. During his visit, through the wonders of magical realism, Borges was able to pay a visit to the Cité de l’Ecrit and be surprised by the range of stock carried by The Glass Key bookshop. He died in Montmorillonon 14 June 1986.