Amparo Dávila

• Born — 21 February 1928 • Birthplace — Pinos, Zacatecas, Mexico • Died — 18 April 2020 • Place of death — Zacatecas, Mexico • Occupation — Writer • Notable Works — Árboles petrificados (Petrified Trees) (1977), Tiempo destrozado (Broken Time) (1959) • Awards — Premio Xavier Villaurrutia (1977), Medalla Bellas Artes (2015)

Dávila was born on February 21, 1928, in Pinos, Zacatecas. Her childhood was marked by fear, a theme that appeared in a number of her future works as an author. Her first published work was Salmos bajo la luna in 1950. This was followed by Meditaciones a la orilla del sueño and Perfil de soledades. In 1954 she moved to Mexico City where she worked as Alfonso Reyes's secretary. In 1966, she was a part of the Centro Mexicano de Escritores (Mexican Writers' Center) where she received a grant to continue writing. In 2008, Davila was recognized by the Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City.

Dávila died on 18 April 2020. Her death was announced by the Secretary of Culture of Zacatecas on April 18, 2020. In 2018, she wrote:

Davila is known for her use of themes of insanity, danger, and death, typically dealing with a female protagonist. Many of her protagonists appear to have mental disorders and lash out, often violently, against others. Many times the women are still unable to escape from their mental issues and live with the actions they have taken. She also plays with ideas of time by using time as a symbol of that which we cannot change. Her other works include: • Salmos bajo la luna (1950) • Meditaciones a la orilla del sueño (1954) • Perfil de soledades (1954) • Tiempo destrozado (1959) • Música concreta (1964) • Árboles petrificados (1977) • Muerte en el bosque (1985)

• The Houseguest and Other Stories (New Directions, 2018) tr. Audrey Harris and Matthew Gleeson