Photo: Ola Erikson / Forflex
Sample of authors
Cercas, Javier
The Spanish author and essayist Javier Cercas was born in Ibahernando (Cáceres), Extremadura, western Spain. His father was a country vet. When Cercas was four years old, the family moved to Girona in Catalonia where he attended a Catholic school. He spent all his summer holidays in Ibahernando and has continued to be closely attached to his place of birth.
Cercas immediate family were ...
Photo: 1929 Bassano/Camera Press / TT
Sample of authors
Maugham, W. Somerset
William Somerset Maugham was a British author born in Paris. His father was a lawyer at the British Embassy there. When Maugham was eight years old, his mother died of tuberculosis, two years later his father died of cancer and the boy was sent to live with his uncle, the Vicar of Whitstable in Kent. Maugham suffered from a serious stammer, he was shy and avoided speaking in public; unlike his...