Cuban American literature

Cuban American literature overlaps with both Cuban literature and American literature, and is also distinct in itself. Its boundaries can blur on close inspection. Some scholars, such as Rodolfo J. Cortina, regard "Cuban American authors" simply as Cubans "who live and write in the United States."^[1] Canonical writers include Reinaldo Arenas, Rafael Campo, Nilo Cruz, Daína Chaviano, Carlos Eire, Roberto G. Fernández, Gustavo Pérez Firmat, Cristina García, Carolina Garcia-Aguilera, Oscar Hijuelos, Melinda Lopez, Eduardo Machado, Orlando Ricardo Menes, José Martí, Achy Obejas, Ricardo Pau-Llosa, and Virgil Suárez.^[2]

History

The literature of Cuban Americans may be read in light of Cuban immigration to the United States and/or Cuban exile. Cortina incorporates this history into his grouping of Cuban American literary output into "generations": neoclassical (circa 1800–1825), romantic (1825–1850), realist–naturalist (1850–1880), impressionist (1880–1910), avant-garde (1910–1940), existentialist (1940–1960), revolutionary (1960–1985), and postmodern (1985–).^[1]

Cuban-American literature may be found in Spanish-language United States newspapers such as:^[3]

• El Eco de Cuba (est. 1855 in New York)
• El Horizonte (est. 1850 in New York by Miguel Teurbe Tolón)
• El Mulato (est. 1854 in New York)
• La Verdad (1848-1860, New York)

See also

• List of Cuban-American writers
• Cuban immigration to the United States