Julia Calzadilla, a Notable Exponent of Cuban Letters, Has Passed Away

April 27, 2024

The distinguished Cuban poet, narrator, and translator Julia Calzadilla passed away in this capital at the age of 81, as reported by the Instituto Cubano del Libro on its Facebook page.

A graduate in Art History from the University of La Habana, the writer, born in La Habana on August 1, 1943, worked as a documentary and literary translator, as well as in simultaneous interpretation from English, French, Italian, and Portuguese to Spanish at national and international events.

She was a member of the International Association of Egyptologists from the United Kingdom, of the Scientific Team "Osiris," Alicante, Spain; of the Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba (Uneac), and of the Cuban Association of Translators and Interpreters (ACTI).

Singing Poems (1975), Songs of Latin America and the Caribbean (1982), The Chichiricú of the Jícara Pond (1988), The Small Poems of Grandfather Singer (1989), and The Incredible Adventures of Chirri (1989) are some of her literary creations.

Throughout her career she earned countless awards and recognitions, among them, the distinction for National Culture (1996), and the "Juan Ortega Gatell" Prize (1999), awarded by the Team of Translation and Interpretation Services (Esti) for Best Professional of the Year.

Also the "Tropical Gypsy" distinction (2002), granted by the Provincial Department of Culture of La Habana, and the "Astrid Lindgren" Prize (2014) in the branch of children's and youth literature, awarded by the International Federation of Translators (FIT).

For her valuable art of storytelling, other important awards enhance her catalog, such as the Casa de las Américas Prize (1976) for Songs of Latin America and the Caribbean, Literature for Children and Youth, Poetry, a work that also won the Prize at the International Book Fair of Bratislava in 1982.