Jorge Luis Borges was an Argentine short-story writer, essayist, poet, and translator, regarded as a key figure in Spanish-language and international literature. His best-known works include the short story collections "Ficciones" (1944) and "The Aleph" (1949), which explore themes of dreams, labyrinths, chance, infinity, and philosophical idealism. Borges' innovative use of narrative structure and his blending of fact and fiction influenced countless writers worldwide. He received numerous international honors and is considered one of the greatest writers of the 20th century.