Mario Lacruz Muntadas was born in Barcelona in 1929, and died in the same city in 2000. During his lifetime he published the three novels which are now presented as The Trilogy of Guilt. He worked intensively as an editor for Plaza & Janés, Argos-Vergara and Seix Barral, making him one of the most respected and renowned editors in the Spanish speaking world. At the same time, he continued to write, as evidenced by the numerous unpublished manuscripts found in his cupboard. On his death, the critics defined him as one of the most unique voices in Spanish narrative of the second half of the 20th century.