Jose Martí: An Introduction [Paperback]

Oscar Montero (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1403962871 | ISBN-13: 978-1403962874 | Publication Date: April 17, 2004 | Edition: 1st

Jose Marti, Cuban national hero, was one of Latin America's most influential literary and political figures. There is currently no introductory overview to his complex body of works. Jose Marti: An Introduction offers such an introduction to Marti's most pertinent, enduring ideas, exploring his writing on race, gender, the relationship between Cuba and the U.S., and issues of displacement and bilingualism. The writing is accessible on the undergraduate level, yet Montero does not oversimplify ambiguities and contradictions of Marti's work and life.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A welcomed introduction to the Cuban writer, easily adaptable, pedagogically speaking, to
current academic and cultural debates."--Antonio Vera-León, State Universtiy of New York
at Stony Brook

"Oscar Montero makes Martí accessible and relevant to today's English-language reader in this engagingly written and authoritative introduction. The book places Martí in relation to American authors such as Emerson and Whitman, with whom he carried out a dialogue of which most Americans are not aware. Bi-lingual and bi-cultural in the deepest sense, Montero has written a book that should also be of the utmost interest to Latin Americans in this country and back home, as well as to students and scholars. I cannot think of a better introduction to the Cuban poet and patriot in any language."--Roberto González Echevarría, Sterling Professor of Hispanic and Comparative Literatures, Yale University.

"Without engaging in simplification or anachronism, Montero gives us a contemporary Martí, strikingly relevant to modern cultural debates in the United States and across the Americas. The book constitutes a powerful call for a generous rereading of Martí on issues of identity, race, gender, inter-American relations, exile and imperialism. For those interested in formulations of latinidad and eager to foster true dialogue and cultural exchange between the Americas, north and south, this book is more than just useful: it is indispensable."--Sylvia Molloy, Albert Schweitzer Professor in the Humanities, New York University

"This is an extremely successful introduction to Martí. Through sharp, fresh analyses, Montero offers an extensive interpretation of Marti’s multi-faceted work, with special attention to his views of the racial, cultural and political dilemmas of the United States. One of the many attractive things about this book is Montero’s historically focused reflections on Martí´s understanding of Latinos. "--Arcadio Díaz Quiñones, Princeton University

About the Author

Oscar Montero is Professor of Latin American Literature at Lehman College and The Graduate Center of the City University of New York.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan; 1st edition (April 17, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1403962871
• ISBN-13: 978-1403962874
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #262,983 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Jose Marti Made Easy, May 4, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Jose Martí: An Introduction (Paperback)

As a well-assimilated Latina, I grew up hearing about Jose Marti as the father of Cuban independence, a poet, a revolutionary, a hero in battle, and yet not really understanding his place in the larger history of Latin American and this hemisphere. While I knew about his political life and some of his works, until reading this book, I truly did not know the level of impact Marti had on race, gender, bicultural and other social issues. This book pulled me in quickly. Montero makes Marti's 20th century ideas and writings on complex issues easily accessible and relevant to the 21st century mind. While this book will certainly encourage interesting dialogue among academics and long-time students of Marti and of Latino literary/political figures and history, its value for me has been to share in Montero's connection and understanding of Marti, and thus awaken and reintroduce me to his life, ideas and works. Highly recommend it.