poetry

José Martí (1853-1895) is a Cuban national hero and a towering figure in Latin American letters. A poet, essayist, journalist, revolutionary philosopher, translator, professor, publisher, and political theorist, he fought for Cuba's independence from Spain and against the threat of United States expansionism into Cuba. He is considered the father of Latin American modernism, and his best known works include the children's magazine Edad de oro (1889), the poetry collection Versos sencillos (1891), selections from which were adapted by composer Julián Orbón into the iconic Cuban song "Guantanamera," and the many crónicas he wrote for newspapers in the U.S. and Latin America.