B. TRAVEN

B. Traven (1882-1969) was a pen name of the most enigmatic writer of the twentieth century. His other aliases include Hal Croves, Traven Torsvan and Ret Marut. Born in Germany or Chicago, Traven spent much of his adult life in Mexico. He once wrote "I shall always and at all times prefer to be pissed on by dogs than reveal who I am." He is a model for Archimboldi, the hero of Roberto Bolano's 2666. Traven is best known for his novels The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, The Cotton Pickers, and The Death Ship.