Miguel Barnet Recognized on His 85th Birthday

January 28, 2025

With a solid and recognized trajectory in Cuban culture, Miguel Barnet Lanza, National Literature Prize winner (1994), poet, narrator, essayist, ethnologist and politician, reaches his 85th birthday today.

Very recently the Cuban Academy of Language, of which he is a veteran member, granted him the status of Honorary Academic, and months earlier in 2024 he attended the launch in Italy, in the beautiful Campo di Fiori square, of the 86th edition of his inspired, historic and classic book Biography of a Runaway Slave.

Published for the first time in 1967, this special edition has just been reissued by the Italian publisher Quodlibet, and features notes by the celebrated writers Alejo Carpentier and Italo Calvino, as well as an epilogue by anthropologist Elena Zapponi.

This intellectual born in Havana on January 28, 1940 has many works to his credit, but this testimonial novel, which narrates in the first person the history of Esteban Montejo, a slave, runaway slave and fighter in Cuba's War of Independence at the end of the 19th century, is very representative of his trajectory.

When the young Barnet met him in 1963, Montejo, the protagonist, was over a century old. It has been said that he was an astute, stubborn and proud man, with extremely vivid memories.

Barnet is founder of the Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba and holds the position of President of Honor of that organization.

His cultural legacy highlights works of his authorship Rachel's Song, Gallego and Real Life, while his name is indissolubly linked to the national film industry.

His writings amalgamate childhood memories, the creative processes of his texts, Cuban music, religion, race, and everything that characterizes and gives life to the essence of the island that gave him birth.

His Martí spirit stands out, especially because he was born in the Cuban capital on January 28, the same day as José Martí, the National Hero of Cuba and Apostle of independence.