#cuban-novel

2 articles

Colonial Havana in the 1830s, the setting of Cecilia Valdés. AI-generated illustration

Culture Feb 13, 2026 6 min read

Cecilia Valdés: Cuba's National Novel That Challenged an Era

The story of Cecilia Valdés, Cirilo Villaverde's masterpiece on race, love and colonialism in 19th century Cuba, and its legendary zarzuela adaptation.

1950s Cuban writer's desk in Havana with typewriter and colonial view. Artistic illustration.

Culture Feb 12, 2026 4 min read

Alejo Carpentier and Lo Real Maravilloso: Cuba's Literary Giant

Life and legacy of Alejo Carpentier, father of the marvelous real and key figure of the Latin American boom. His work transformed world literature.