Marina Closs grew up in a small town in the Misiones province of Argentina, an area steeped in the history that informs The Depopulation, her first novel to be published in English. She is the recipient of Argentina’s Fondo Nacional de las Artes Prize and Angélica Gorodischer Prize, and has also been shortlisted for Spain’s Finestres Prize and Ribera del Duero Prize. She lives in Santiago, Chile.

Vol. 1 Brooklyn “Recommended Books” selectionLatinx in Publishing “Latinx Releases” selection“[The Depopulation] is now part of the historical record of that which is gone, and another reminder of the important role that fiction can play in portraying cultures that have been lost to aggressions of the past.” —Southwest Review“Simply beautiful writing. . . . Closs has captured the tension and terror [of colonialization], provided humorous relief, yet never strays from the story of this small mission in 17th-century Brazil.” —North of Oxford“[Closs’] knowledge of the history and rich folklore of South America is evident on every page. . . . In lush, lyrical prose, the novel reveals the devastating effect of colonialism on indigenous populations.” —Historical Novels Review“[An] immersive English-language debut. . . . Closs, who exhibits deep knowledge of the region’s history, often uses dry humor to highlight the absurdity of the Jesuits’ ‘civilizing mission.’ . . . It’s an inspired effort.” —Publishers Weekly“The narrative voice reverberates with the resonance of parable and is peppered with Guaraní songs and verses. . . . A beautiful, absurd, and fascinating exploration of the tragic fallout from a fierce cultural clash.” —Booklist“Threaded by beautifully imaginative prose and a cast of endearing characters, The Depopulation is a poetic journey into the depths of nature, affection, and religious experience. Marina Closs strikes me as one of the most compelling voices in contemporary Latin American literature.” —Simón López Trujillo, author of Pedro the Vast“Marina Closs’s writing trembles, sweats, explodes; she is, as of now, one of my favorite writers.” —Mónica Ojeda, author of Jawbone and Electric Shamans at the Festival of the Sun