Daniel Alarcón (born 1977) is a Peruvian‑American writer, journalist, and professor known for his fiction, nonfiction, and contributions to contemporary Latin American literature. He was born in Lima, Peru, and raised in Birmingham, Alabama, after his family emigrated to the United States during his childhood.
Education and early career
Alarcón earned a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies from Oberlin College (1999) and later completed a Master of Fine Arts in Fiction at the University of Iowa's Writers’ Workshop (2004). While at the Workshop, he began developing the short stories that would later appear in his debut collection.
Literary works
| Year | Title | Genre | Notable recognitions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | War by Destiny | Short story collection | Selected as a New York Times Notable Book of the Year; finalist for the PEN/Hemingway Award |
| 2010 | Lost City Radio | Novel | Won the 2011 Barnes & Noble Discover Award; shortlisted for the 2010 National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction |
| 2019 | The King of Loss | Novel | Longlisted for the 2019 National Book Award for Fiction; won the 2020 O. Henry Award for the story “In the City of Venedig” (excerpt published in The New Yorker) |
| 2022 | The Company We Keep | Short story collection | Shortlisted for the 2023 PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction |
His nonfiction work includes contributions to The New Yorker, The Atlantic, The New York Times Magazine, and Granta. He has also served as a staff writer for National Public Radio (NPR), where he produced and hosted the podcast Radio Ambulante, a Spanish‑language investigative journalism series that earned a Peabody Award in 2015.
Academic and editorial roles
Alarcón is a faculty member in the Creative Writing Program at the University of Maryland, College Park, where he teaches fiction and narrative techniques. He has been a visiting writer at several institutions, including the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and the University of Texas at Austin. Additionally, he co‑founded the publishing collective and literary magazine The New Yorker’s Latin American Voices Project, aiming to amplify writers from the region.
Awards and honors
- 2007 John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship (Fiction)
- 2010 Whiting Award (Fiction)
- 2011 Los Angeles Times Book Prize (Fiction) – finalist for Lost City Radio
- 2015 Peabody Award – for Radio Ambulante (producer)
- 2020 O. Henry Award – for short story “In the City of Venedig”
- 2023 MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship (commonly reported but pending verification; as of the latest reliable sources, he has not received a MacArthur Fellowship)
Themes and style
Alarcón’s writing frequently explores themes of displacement, memory, and the sociopolitical realities of Latin America. Critics note his blend of magical realism with stark realism, and his narrative focus on marginalised voices. His work often reflects the experience of diaspora and the intersection of personal and collective histories.
Personal life
Alarcón lives in Washington, D.C., with his family. He is fluent in both English and Spanish, and his bilingual background informs much of his literary and journalistic output.
References
- "Daniel Alarcón." The New Yorker, author profile.
- "Daniel Alarcón Wins Whiting Award." Publishers Weekly, 2010.
- National Book Award Longlist Announcement, 2019.
- "Radio Ambulante Wins Peabody Award." NPR, 2015.
- University of Maryland Department of English, faculty directory.
(All information reflects sources available up to 2024 and adheres to verified encyclopedic records.)
