Argentine poet, novelist and playwright, Arnaldo Calveyra attracted critical attention with his first book of poetry, Cartas para que la alegria; Julio Cortázar, Carlos Mastronardi and Victoria Ocampo were early champions of his work. In 1961, Calveyra accepted a research fellowship in Paris where he would meet his wife Monique Tur and remain for the rest of his life—an exile that was both sweet and bitter in accordance with Argentina's political landscape. The author of over 25 works of literature and theater, Calveyra was the recipient of numerous honors in his lifetime including France's highest award for contributions to the arts Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres in 1999.