Roberto Fernández Retamar
Encyclopedia
Roberto Fernández Retamar (born June 9, 1930) is a Cuban poet, essayist, literary critic and President of the Casa de las Américas
. In his role as President of the organization, Fernández also serves on the Council of State of Cuba
. An early close confidant of Che Guevara
and Fidel Castro
, he has remained a central figure in Cuba since the 1959 Revolution
. Retamar has also written over a dozen major collections of verse and founded the Casa de las Americas cultural magazine. Professor Castro de Rocha, at the University of Manchester
has described Retamar as "one of the most distinguished Latin American intellectuals of the twentieth century."
Casa de las Américas
Casa de las Américas is an organization that was founded by the Cuban Government in April 1959, four months after the Cuban Revolution, for the purpose of developing and extending the socio-cultural relations with the countries of Latin America, the Caribbean and the rest of the world...
. In his role as President of the organization, Fernández also serves on the Council of State of Cuba
Council of State of Cuba
The Council of State of Cuba is a 31-member body of the government of Cuba, elected by the National Assembly of People’s Power. It has the authority to exercise most legislative power between sessions of the National Assembly of People’s Power, subject to its approval, and to call the National...
. An early close confidant of Che Guevara
Che Guevara
Ernesto "Che" Guevara , commonly known as el Che or simply Che, was an Argentine Marxist revolutionary, physician, author, intellectual, guerrilla leader, diplomat and military theorist...
and Fidel Castro
Fidel Castro
Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz is a Cuban revolutionary and politician, having held the position of Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976, and then President from 1976 to 2008. He also served as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from the party's foundation in 1961 until 2011...
, he has remained a central figure in Cuba since the 1959 Revolution
Cuban Revolution
The Cuban Revolution was an armed revolt by Fidel Castro's 26th of July Movement against the regime of Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista between 1953 and 1959. Batista was finally ousted on 1 January 1959, and was replaced by a revolutionary government led by Castro...
. Retamar has also written over a dozen major collections of verse and founded the Casa de las Americas cultural magazine. Professor Castro de Rocha, at the University of Manchester
University of Manchester
The University of Manchester is a public research university located in Manchester, United Kingdom. It is a "red brick" university and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive British universities and the N8 Group...
has described Retamar as "one of the most distinguished Latin American intellectuals of the twentieth century."