Javier Cercas (1962) is a Spanish writer and translator. Although young Cercas was noticed by several notable authors, including Roberto Bolaño, it was some time until his major literary breakthrough. It arrived in 2001 with his fourth novel Soldados de Salamina (Soldiers of Salamis). Cercas addresses the key issues of Spain’s complicated and violent recent history, using the, mildly put, colourful life of poet Rafael Sánchez Mazas.