Present Book about Máximo Gómez at International Book Fair of Costa Rica

August 30, 2018

The Cuban historian and writer Yoel Cordoví presented his book Máximo Gómez. Utopía y realidad de una República in Costa Rica, where he addresses the final years of life of the prominent fighter for Cuba's independence from Spain.

The work reveals the trajectory of the Major General of the Cuban Liberation Army in the 19th century, after the war between the United States, Spain, and Cuba ended, Cordoví told Prensa Latina after presenting his book at the XIX International Book Fair Costa Rica (Filcr) 2018.

It is precisely this little-known work of Gómez, sometimes quite controversial of course, and it is precisely when the Cuban National Hero José Martí and Lieutenant General Antonio Maceo are no longer alive, the other two relevant Cuban independence figures from the late 19th century, pointed out the historian.

The book highlights the facts that marked Gómez's life, mainly those encompassed in the period after the war and his death, explained the author.

The also vice president of the Institute of History of Cuba clarifies that the text begins with Gómez in the Dominican Republic, which stems from a process of observing the war and revolution on the Caribbean island.

Also, he continued, little-known facets of the Major General of the Liberation Army appear, such as his relations with his family and especially that of Gómez the writer, that is, his short stories and theatrical works.

"Ultimately, the book guides the reader to seek out Máximo Gómez in his entirety in order to understand him much better."

A curious anecdote present in the book is one where Gómez asserts that from the United States, whom he called the imperialists of the north, one had to fear the cannons, the gold, and the pretexts, because of everything they were capable of doing to achieve their objectives.

That is why Gómez fought so that the Republic would be established in the shortest time possible, since the joint resolution had already been signed, which in its last article stated that the United States would withdraw from Cuba as soon as Cubans demonstrated they were in a position to govern themselves.

Filcr-2018 began today with the ribbon cutting of the main venue, in the Old Customs House, where there are 56 booths with a similar number of publishing houses, and dedicated to honoring three greats of Costa Rican literature and theater: Fabian Dobles, Quince Duncan, and Daniel Gallegos.

In representation of the Cuban Chamber of the Book, the publishing houses Abril, Gente Nueva, and Citmatel participate, as well as the writers Yoel Cordoví and Nerys Pupo.