Massimo Bontempelli (Como, 1878 – Rome, 1960), founder and leading exponent of Italian magical realism, was one of the most innovative writers of the 20th century. A novelist, essayist, playwright, and translator, he was a frequent contributor to publications such as Il Corriere della Sera, Il Messaggero, and L’Unità. A companion of Paola Masino, a friend of Giorgio de Chirico and Alberto Savinio, and a regular collaborator of Luigi Pirandello, his most successful works include, in addition to Gente en el tiempo (Acantilado, 2025), Il figlio di due madri (1929), Vita e morte di Adria e dei suoi figli (1930), and L’amante fedele (1953), for which he won the prestigious Strega Prize.