The Bolivian woman who inspired Mario Vargas Llosa's 1977 novel Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter, and married Peru's best-known writer when he was 19, has died at age 84.

Julia Urquidi died of respiratory problems in the Bolivian city Santa Cruz Wednesday, her relatives said.

Ms Urquidi was 10 years older than the novelist, who is renowned for works including The Feast of the Goat. They were married from 1955 to 1964.

Dissatisfied with her ex-husband's account of their relationship, she published her own account of the marriage in a book titled What Little Vargas Didn't Say.

Ms Urquidi said the couple split when Vargas Llosa admitted he was in love with her niece, Patricia, to whom he is still married.

Vargas Llosa, 73, who ran for Peru's Presidency but was defeated by jailed former President Alberto Fujimori in 1990, is one of Latin America's most famous novelists and also writes regular newspaper columns.