José Rafael Valles Calatrava
José Rafael Valles Calatrava (born 1957) is a Spanish researcher and professor of Literary Theory and Comparative Literature at the University of Almería. His interests lie in the fields of narratalogy, semiotics and crime fiction. He has published extensively on those fields and has written books such as "Diccionario de teoría de la narrativa" ["Dictionary of Narrative Theory"] and "Teoría de la narrativa" ["Narrative Theory"]. Valles Calatrava has taught at the University of Almería and the University of Granada since 1989. He also has been involved in diplomatic work in Spain embassies in Mexico, Cuba, Peru , and Bolivia. University Involvement. At the university of Almería, Dr. Valles Calatrava has been vice secretary-general between 1993 and 1995, vice president of Academic Planning between 1995 and 1997 and he was a member of the Academic Committee for PhD Students in Humanities and Social Studies. Additionally, he became head of the Department of Art and Literature at the (1989-1993). Currently, Dr. Valles Calatrava leads the Theory of Literature and Comparative Literature research group. He is also member of several Andalusian writers' and critics' associations. He has directed various doctoral theses, has given numerous lectures and courses  in Spain and abroad, has conducted several research stays at foreign universities, particularly the UNAM, and has obtained several grants in Spain, both public and private, to undertake investigation projects. He has researched comprehensively on crime fiction, space and narrative character and theories of narrative and the historic development of these such theories. He is author of numerous scientific publications and has coordinated several academics works.