Writer, essayist and poet. He was born in Havana on December 19 and died in this same city on August 9.

He was recognized throughout the entire world as a man holding universal and encyclopedic culture and deep intellectual maturity.

Many people regard his prose severe, hermetic, sometimes contradictory and scandalous.


Founder together with José Rodríguez Feo of Orígenes Magazine, one of the most remarkable publications from 40th decade in the Hispanic American Literature world. Within it, various chapters of his novel Paradiso, unfinished then, were published.

In 1959, he was in charge of Literature and Publications Department from the National Council of Culture and in 1961, he occupied a Vice-Presidence of Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba (UNEAC). Since 1969, he was Literary Assessor of Casa de las Américas.

In 1972, he was bestowed with Moldoror Prize of Poetry in Madrid and in Italy and Prize to the Best Hispanic American Work translated to Italian to his novel Paradiso.

Among his most well-known works are worthy to mention: Paradiso and Oppiano Licario (published after his death); regarding to poetry we can highlight La casa del alibi (Alibi House), Muerte de Narciso (Narciso Death) (1937), Enemigo rumor (Enemy Rumor) (1941), Aventuras sigilosas (Secret Adventures) (1945), La Fijesa (1949), Dador (1960) and among his most important essays are Analecta del reloj (Analecta and the watch) (1953), La expresión americana (The American Expression) (1957) and Tratados en La Habana (Treaties in Havana) (1958).

See more information at National Council of Patrimony and Cubaliteraria.

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