Adolfo Méndez Vides

Gilberto Adolfo Méndez Vides (born 1956), known professionally as Adolfo Méndez Vides or Méndez Vides, is a Guatemalan writer, poet, cultural journalist and literary columnist. Born in Antigua Guatemala, he is associated with contemporary Guatemalan literature and has written novels, short stories, poetry, essays and literary journalism.

Méndez Vides won the Premio Latinoamericano de Novela Nueva Nicaragua in 1986 for Las catacumbas and the Premio de Novela Mario Monteforte Toledo in 1997 for Las murallas. In 2025 he was named recipient of Guatemala's Miguel Ángel Asturias National Prize in Literature.

Life and career Méndez Vides was born in 1956 in Antigua Guatemala, in the department of Sacatepéquez. He grew up in Antigua Guatemala and later maintained ties with both that city and Guatemala City.

Méndez Vides's novel Las catacumbas won the Premio Latinoamericano de Novela Nueva Nicaragua in 1986 and was first published in 1987. In January 2026, Prensa Libre reported that Méndez Vides had been named the recipient of the 2025 edition of the Miguel Ángel Asturias National Prize in Literature. Las catacumbas — novel; first published in 1987 and reissued in 2001. Las murallas — novel. El tercer patio — short stories. El leproso — novel.