Jose Marti Reader: Writings on the Americas [Paperback]

You may recognize these words. They are the English translation of the first verse of "Guantanamera", a beautiful and very popular Cuban song. This was orignally a poem written by Jose Marti which you will find in it's entirety among his other eloquent and inspiring works in the "Jose Marti Reader...Writings On The Americas".

If you have never read the words of Marti before, this is an excellent book to start with. Jose Marti, was the brillant and outspoken leader of Cuba's War of Independence against Spain. But he was so much more than that. He was a compassionate humanitarian, a spokesman for Latin America,a highly respected jouranlist, an inspiring teacher, and an eloquent poet.

His words and most important works, translated beautifully, are compiled in this wonderful book through his essays, speeches, newspaper articles, Verses and his personal letters,which are especially touching. He lived from 1853(born in Havana) and died while practically single handedly leading the fight against Spain in 1895.

The book is sectioned into three chronogical parts.Most of these works were written during his exile, while living in New York. He was the eyes and voice for most Cubans and Latin Americans. His "Writings On The Americas", "Letters" and "Verse". He writes in 1885 about the unfair treament of "Indians in the United States", he was there for the "Dedication of the Statue of Liberty" and reminds us of the freedoms we here in America take so much for granted, and what it's like not to know these freedoms. He writes of great men like San Martin, Simon Bolivar, and counts Harriet Beecher Stowe among the people he most admired. His letters, most especially those to his family, tell us what a caring and loving man he was. And his verses so beautifully refelct his views on life, you can just get lost
in them.

This is not what I would call a light read,admitedly, there were
occassions where I had to reread some thoughts to truly understand what he was saying, but I found it to be absolutely inspiring and thought provoking. The age old question of what 3 books would you take to a desert island is answered for me. This would be the number one book I would take.

Marti was a man who said,,"There are no races: there are only the various
modifictions of man in details of form and habits....." In every word he
writes his passion for his country and the human race is evident.

So, my other two books..hmmm... I think I would defintly like to have
something like a boy scout handbook on survival, and maybe a book on how to
build a sailboat may come in handy as well....

enjoy this wonderful book.....Laurie