Fernando María Castiella y Maíz (1907–1976) was a Spanish diplomat and politician, who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs (1957–1969) in Francoist Spain.

He also undertook postdoctoral specialisation at the Universities of Paris, Cambridge and Geneva and at The Hague Academy of International Law.

During the Second World War he joined the Blue Division, a unit of Spanish volunteers that served in the Wehrmacht on the Eastern Front.

The book was written at the height of the Third Reich's power and Franco had considered entering war on Hitler's side.

Politically moderate aperturist[clarification needed], in 1961, he wrote a draft bill of religious freedom, although it was not passed until 1967.