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| Thursday, February 15, 2007 |
Criticas
This is an anthology of exciting, politically charged writings by Cuban dissidents living on the island. The collection is the result of a national literary contest organized by Bibliotecas Independientes de Cuba (Independent Libraries of Cuba), a grass-roots association of private citizens who make available to the general public in Cuba books censored by the government and thus banned from official public libraries. (The books come from abroad or are donations from families who left the island.) The pieces in this anthology are the first three prize winners in the essay, letter-writing, poetry, testimony, journalism, and short story categories. As often happens in literature with a political bent, the boundaries within these genres are blurred, leading to new and vibrant hybrid literary forms. Collectively, the most striking element is the highly combative spirit of today’s dissidents. The authors trace their personal political commitment by denouncing their own oppression under the totalitarian Cuban regime. Some of them offer gruesome details of their imprisonment in Cuban jails, sentences characterized by brutal physical torture and violation of the most basic civil rights. From a historical perspective, the autobiographical essays offer a panoramic view of the opposition to the regime, often with allusions to key periods in the development of revolutionary ideology. Finally, for the literary scholar, the short stories and poems develop themes inspired by the overwhelmingly oppressive conditions of the lives of Cuban nonconformists. Also included are color photographs of works by Cuban painters living in exile in the United States, Mexico, and France. This anthology will certainly generate controversy, particularly in light of Castro’s failing health and Cuba’s uncertain future. Highly recommended for collections on contemporary Latin American and Cuban political issues.
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