Carlos Ruiz Zafon Dies, aged 55

The Spanish author of many novels including the international bestseller The Shadow of the Wind has died, aged 55. Today Spanish media reports that Zafon had been diagnosed with colon cancer in 2018 but no cause of death has yet been announced

Carlos Ruiz Zafon was born in the city of Barcelona, Spain on September 25th 1964 and originally worked in advertising. In 1990 he moved to Los Angeles and in 1993 released his first novel, El Príncipe de la Niebla (published in English as The Prince of Mist in 2010). Zafon would work briefly in screenwriting, but in the end would write eight novels, many internationally bestselling including The Shadow of the Wind, the first book in what would become The Cemetery of Forgotten Books trilogy.

Today tributes rolled out across the literary world, including one from his Spanish publisher Planeta who said “Today is a very sad day for the entire Planeta team that knew him and worked with him for 20 years, in which a friendship that transcends professionalism has been forged,” Zafon’s English language publisher Wiedenfield & Nicolson also said it was deeply saddened to hear of Carlos’ passing.

Fans across the world have come out in mourning today and the author has been trending on Twitter for most of the day.