Juan Francisco Sariol

He was born in San Luis and when he was seven years old his family moved to Santiago de Cuba, where he studied at a public school and at the private school San Severino, in exchange for different services such as distributing the weekly publication El Noticioso Cubano.

Later he began as an apprentice in the typographic workshop of Luis Lamarque, which allowed him to participate in editions of the Revista Jurídico Notarial.

Subsequently, Max Henríquez Ureña attracted him to his magazine Cuba Literaria and made him aware of the originals of important works of the time, including Ariel, by José Enrique Rodó, which was a decisive book in the formation of his creative personality.

He also distributed El Estímulo, by José Manuel Poveda and founded El Pensil (1907). During that period (until 1909) he resided in the province of Pinar del Río and worked at El Vigilante (Guanajay) and founded La Libertad (Artemisa).

During a brief stay in La Habana (1909), he entered as an apprentice in the workshops of La Moderna Poesía and upon returning to Santiago de Cuba, that same year he resumed publication of El Pensil, which he quickly abandoned due to economic problems.

After settling in Manzanillo, in 1911 he founded La Defensa and directed Renacimiento, a magazine whose ephemeral existence served as a preamble to the publication—under his direction—of Orto, which from 1912 to 1957 was "a faithful exponent, spokesman and organ of culture" in Manzanillo.

In that city a Literary Group emerged around his figure (1921) and after becoming owner of the printing press El Arte, he conceived the Biblioteca Martí collection through which he made known works by José Manuel Poveda, Regino Boti and Maria Luisa Milanés.

He was also a collaborator for El Fígaro and Simientes (Ciego de Avila) and founder of the Cenas Martianas (1926-61), one of the various ways in which he dedicated himself to preserving the thought and work of the Master.

With the triumph of the Revolution, permanently based in La Habana, he retired, turned over his printing press to the Government and dedicated himself to writing his last book.

Since 1978 the Juan Francisco Sariol Literary Prize was established in Manzanillo and in 1988 it was instituted by the UPEC and the UNEAC to award the best literary supplement in the country. (Marta Lesmes Albis)

Awards and Distinctions: For his social and literary prestige, he received, in 1941, the Medal of Oriente and the title of Adopted Son granted by the Mayor's Office of Manzanillo and also by Santiago de Cuba.

Active Bibliography: La muerte de Weyler (short story), 1931, 145 pp. / Zumo (poetry), 1935, 127 pp. / Barrabás (short story), 1948, 126 pp. / Juguetería de ensueños y otros poemas (poetry), 1966, 145 pp.

Passive Bibliography: Augier, Angel: "Evocación de Juan Francisco Sariol", Revista de Literatura Cubana, Jan.-Jul.'84, 148-152 pp. / Aza Montero, Alberto: "Al margen de un libro", Orto, Jul.'49, 8-10 pp. / Campoamor, Fernando G.: "Los poemas de Juan F. Sariol", Orto, Aug.'35, 121-122 pp. / Jerez Villarreal, Juan: "Juan Francisco Sariol", in his Hombres bajo el signo de la vocación frustrada, 1938, 179-204 pp. / Medina, José Ramón: "Nuestros escritores en el extranjero", Orto, Apr.'50, 10 p.