Alberto Gerchunoff (1883-1950) was an Argentine writer born in Russia. His family emigrated in 1889 to the agricultural colony of Rajil, founded by philanthropist Baron Maurice de Hirsch as a haven for Jews fleeing the pogroms of Europe. Later, he lived in Buenos Aires. Described by Jorge Luis Borges as "an indisputable writer", he was a journalist for Argentina's leading newspaper "La Nacion". He wrote many important novels and books on Latin America, including The Jewish Gauchos of the Pampas , which was later produced into a movie, as well as Retorno a Don Quijote, El hombre importante and others.