Dictionary of Twentieth-Century Cuban Literature

(Hardback)

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Description

This one-volume dictionary is designed to acquaint the English-speaking public with creative writers who contributed significantly to Cuban literature between 1900 and the mid-1980s. Emphasizing literary figures who achieved some measure of international recognition, it presents alphabetically arranged profiles of approximately 120 authors, together with information on literary genres, selected magazines and journals, and influential critics. Each entry begins with a biographical sketch of the author, followed by a discussion of the writer's work and references to relevant critical commentary. A bibliography of major works and secondary sources is supplied for each writer. Essays on literary genres provide an overview of trends, styles and characteristic features of the genres that have been of particular importance in Cuba since 1900. Written by critics and scholars in the field, this dictionary will be a useful resource for studies in modern Latin American and Cuban literature.

Reviews

Julio Martinez edits the Dictionary of Twentieth-Century Cuban Literature a one-volume dictionary slated for English-speaking readers. Literary writers who recieved some international recognition are selected for feature, with alpha profile of over a hundred authors including profile of the publications, critical acclaim, biography, and genre styles and trends.-The Midwest Book Review
Martinez's 74 contributors (academics from Havana, Mexico, Paris, and the US) have produced a guide to 113 Cuban authors active since 1900, selected on carefully defined criteria (p.x) in disregard of residence or political allegiance, and including practically all those with international reputations (and many more beside). Each receives a biographical-critical overview (up to 6 pages) and a short bibliography (6 to 60 items, by and about). There are also brief entries for 45 critics (under "Literary criticism" ), detailed accounts of 8 journals (in the appendix), a 37-item general bibliography, and survey entries for "The Novel," "The Novel of the Cuban Revolution," "Poetry," "The Short Story," and "The Theater." The whole is attractively printed, adequately indexed and bound, and is up to date and apparently accurate. . . . If a library has the Instituto de Literatura y Linguistica's Spanish-language Diccionario de la literatura cubana, ed. by M. Garcia (Havana, 1980-84) and D.C. Maratos and M.D. Hill's bilingual Escritores de la diaspora cubana (CH, Jan'87) is this still needed Definitely: the concentration on fewer individuals means treatment at greater length; the bibliographies, though brief, often include items of criticism not found elsewhere, even in D.W. Foster's Cuban Literature: A Research Guide (CH, Feb'85). And for any library lacking these other works and having an interest in modern Latin American literature, Martinez should be the first choice as a reference guide to writers in Cuba or in exile therefrom.-Choice
"Julio Martinez edits the Dictionary of Twentieth-Century Cuban Literature a one-volume dictionary slated for English-speaking readers. Literary writers who recieved some international recognition are selected for feature, with alpha profile of over a hundred authors including profile of the publications, critical acclaim, biography, and genre styles and trends."-The Midwest Book Review
"Martinez's 74 contributors (academics from Havana, Mexico, Paris, and the US) have produced a guide to 113 Cuban authors active since 1900, selected on carefully defined criteria (p.x) in disregard of residence or political allegiance, and including practically all those with international reputations (and many more beside). Each receives a biographical-critical overview (up to 6 pages) and a short bibliography (6 to 60 items, by and about). There are also brief entries for 45 critics (under "Literary criticism" ), detailed accounts of 8 journals (in the appendix), a 37-item general bibliography, and survey entries for "The Novel," "The Novel of the Cuban Revolution," "Poetry," "The Short Story," and "The Theater." The whole is attractively printed, adequately indexed and bound, and is up to date and apparently accurate. . . . If a library has the Instituto de Literatura y Linguistica's Spanish-language Diccionario de la literatura cubana, ed. by M. Garcia (Havana, 1980-84) and D.C. Maratos and M.D. Hill's bilingual Escritores de la diaspora cubana (CH, Jan'87) is this still needed Definitely: the concentration on fewer individuals means treatment at greater length; the bibliographies, though brief, often include items of criticism not found elsewhere, even in D.W. Foster's Cuban Literature: A Research Guide (CH, Feb'85). And for any library lacking these other works and having an interest in modern Latin American literature, Martinez should be the first choice as a reference guide to writers in Cuba or in exile therefrom."-Choice

Author Bio

JULIO A. MARTINEZ is Spanish Language and Literature Bibliographer and Coordinator of the Chicano Collection of the San Diego State University Library. He is coeditor of Chicano Literature: A Reference Guide (Greenwood, 1985).