A Fish in the Water: A Memoir

work by Vargas Llosa

Also known as: “El pez en el agua: Memorias”

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July 16, 2026

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A Fish in the Water: A Memoir is a 1993 autobiographical work by Peruvian-Spanish writer Mario Vargas Llosa. The memoir details his experiences running for president of Peru in 1990, an election he ultimately lost to Alberto Fujimori. Vargas Llosa reflects on this period, concluding that his true passion and best adventures lie in literature rather than politics. The book draws from his personal life and political journey, blending his experiences with his characteristic literary style. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2010 for his contributions to contemporary literature.123

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Mario Vargas Llosa
Literary works and political career
…en el agua: memorias (1993; A Fish in the Water: A Memoir). In 2012 he told The Guardian, “I learned from my political experiences that I am a writer, not a politician. Part of the reasons I have lived the life I have is because I wanted to have an…
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…en el agua: memorias (1993; A Fish in the Water: A Memoir). In 2012 he told The Guardian, “I learned from my political experiences that I am a writer, not a politician. Part of the reasons I have lived the life I have is because I wanted to have an…
Read More