Fernando Valverde is a preeminent poet writing in the Spanish language today, and he has received international acclaim for his contributions to the art of poetry. Born in Granada, Spain, Valverde has been awarded some of the most prestigious awards for Spanish poetry, and his books have been published across Europe and the Americas. In 2014 his book The Insistence of Harm received the Book of the Year award from the Latino American Writers Institute of the City University of New York. Valverde was also nominated for a Latin Grammy i work integrating poetry and flamenco. In addition to his artistic success, he directs the International Festival of Poetry in Granada, which has received hundreds of distinguished poets since its inauguration. Valverde is a distinguished visiting professor at the University of Virginia.