9781422279762

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Poetry C uba is not a large nation. But it has a rich artistic and literary heritage, which no single volume—much less a brief book like this one—can possibly cover in a comprehensive way. This book instead seeks to describe some key figures in several fields of creative endeavor, and to provide some context for their life and work. Only passing references are made to Cuba’s long colonial era. The book covers the peri- od from the late 1890s (when Cuba was fighting for indepen- dence from Spain) to the present. It’s hoped that readers will further investigate topics and figures that pique their interest. José Martí: Harbinger of “Modernismo” For his role in their country’s struggle to win independence, Cubans revere José Martí as a national hero. Martí was also

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