Overview
Born in Havana, Cuba, in 1853, Jose Marti wasted little time establishing himself as one of Latin America's most eloquent and politically charged writers. By the age of 16, Marti had already decided that he would devote his life to defending his patria, or homeland. The publication of his first verse poem, "Abdala," which promoted Cuban independence from Spanish rule, led to his arrest by Spanish authorities in 1869. After spending several months in jail, Marti was exiled to Spain, where he studied law and wrote a pamphlet detailing his experience as a political prisoner. In 1881, Marti moved to the United States, where he continued to write poetry and worked as a journalist. Throughout this time, he campaigned for the liberation of Cuba, which culminated in his proclamation of Cuban independence, the Manifesto of Montecristi, in 1895.Synopsis
Born in Havana, Cuba, in 1853, Jose Marti wasted little time establishing himself as one of Latin America's most eloquent and politically charged writers. By the age of 16, Marti had already decided that he would devote his life to defending his patria, or homeland. The publication of his first verse poem, "Abdala," which promoted Cuban independence from Spanish rule, led to his arrest by Spanish authorities in 1869. After spending several months in jail, Marti was exiled to Spain, where he studied law and wrote a pamphlet detailing his experience as a political prisoner. In 1881, Marti moved to the United States, where he continued to write poetry and worked as a journalist. Throughout this time, he campaigned for the liberation of Cuba, which culminated in his proclamation of Cuban independence, the Manifesto of Montecristi, in 1895.
Children's Literature
An author, editor, translator, and political force, Jose Marti is one of the greatest thinkers in Cuban history. Born to lower-class, uneducated parents, Marti quickly rose in the ranks thanks to his teacher and mentor Rafael Maria de Mendive, a prominent Cuban journalist and poet. Never afraid to declare his opposition to Spanish rule, Marti spent some time in prison, after which he was sent into exile in Spain. He jumped from Mexico and Guatemala to Venezuela, trying to gain momentum for a campaign against the Spanish occupation of his homeland, after which he landed in New York City and found a public ready to listen. Latin Americans were eager to hear Marti's Cuban perspective and Marti enjoyed freedom of the press to its fullest while in New York. Marti exposed his heart in his poetry and later offered it up as a sacrifice for Cuba Libre when he engaged the Spanish in battle in 1895. Despite his unwillingness to be a pawn, Marti's name is still used to defend ideals he would not have supported. Well-written and enlightening, this is a must-have for libraries with frequent biography requests.