His identity stolen by the Mexican secret service, oil industry bureaucrat Felix Maldonado is thrust into a world of international intrigue as the Mexican government attempts to hold on to a recently discovered oil field against threats from the Middle East and United States to wrest control. Rife with kidnappings, noir cinema and Shakespearian drama, The Hydra Head is an action-packed novel that feels as contemporary as today's headlines.
Carlos Fuentes (1928-2012) was one of the most influential and celebrated voices in Latin American literature. He was the author of 24 novels, including The Death of Artemio Cruz, The Old Gringo and Terra Nostra, and also wrote numerous plays, short stories, and essays. He received the 1987 Cervantes Prize, the Spanish-speaking world's highest literary honor.
Fuentes was born in Panama City, the son of Mexican parents, and moved to Mexico as a teenager. He served as an ambassador to England and France, and taught at universities including Harvard, Princeton, Brown and Columbia. He died in Mexico City in 2012.