Cintio Vitier
Encyclopedia
Cintio Vitier was a Cuba
n poet, essayist, and novelist. Upon winning the Juan Rulfo Prize
, the award jury called him "one of the most important writers of his generation".
, Florida
, United States
, but had Cuban nationality. Vitier attended a school started by his father in Matanzas
, Cuba. He said that the school's library inspired his early literary inspiration. At fifteen, Vitier moved with his family to Havana and attended La Luz, a private school, and later a public secondary school. In 1947, he graduated as an attorney from the University of Havana
.
Vitier founded the journal Luz, allowing him to publish his work. At 17, he published "Poemas", a book of his poetry. Poet Juan Ramón Jiménez
, who was in exile
at the time, wrote the introduction and chose the poems.
poetry. Other themes in his poetry included the nature of poetry, the function of memory, and the role of language in the creative process. After Fidel Castro
's revolution, critics said that Vitier captured the spirit of the revolution without resorting to propaganda
.
Vitier helped start the American poetry magazine "Origin
". Among his works are the books of poetry: "Extrañeza de estar" ("The wonder of being", 1944); "Vísperas" ("Vespers
", 1953); "Canto llano" ("Plain song", 1956); "Testimonios" (1968), an anthology of his works from 1953 to 1968; "La Fecha al Pie" (1981) covering his works from 1969 to 1975; "Antología Poética" (1981); and "Poemas de Mayo a Junio" (1990).
The most prominent of his works on Cuban poetry are "Cincuenta años de poesía cubana, 1902–1952" ("Fifty years of Cuban poetry, 1902–1952"), "Lo cubano en la poesía" ("The Cuban element in poetry", 1958), as well as the novel "Peña Pobre".
Vitier won the National Prize for Literature in 1988, the José Martí Order awarded by the Cuban Council of State, the 2002 Juan Rulfo Prize, and the medal of the Cuban Academy of Sciences
. He also received the title of Official of Arts and Letters of France
.
and Jose Maria Vitier a well-known composer
.
To celebrate his last birthday, a bibliographic exhibition was opened at the Cuban National Library.
Vitier died on October 1, 2009, at age 88 in Havana
. He had made an appearance the week before with his wife, poet Fina García Marruz. His death was first reported by local television stations without additional details. Fidel and Raul Castro
sent floral wreaths dedicated to Vitier.
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
n poet, essayist, and novelist. Upon winning the Juan Rulfo Prize
Juan Rulfo Prize
The Juan Rulfo Prize for Latin American and Caribbean Literature, created in 1991, is awarded to writers of literature from Latin America or the Caribbean who write in Spanish, Portuguese, French, or English, or to writers from any part of America who write in Spanish...
, the award jury called him "one of the most important writers of his generation".
Early life
Cintio Vitier was born to Medardo and María Cristina Bolaños Vitier on September 25, 1921, in Key WestKey West
Key West is an island in the Straits of Florida on the North American continent at the southernmost tip of the Florida Keys. Key West is home to the southernmost point in the Continental United States; the island is about from Cuba....
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, but had Cuban nationality. Vitier attended a school started by his father in Matanzas
Matanzas
Matanzas is the capital of the Cuban province of Matanzas. It is famed for its poets, culture, and Afro-Cuban folklore.It is located on the northern shore of the island of Cuba, on the Bay of Matanzas , east of the capital Havana and west of the resort town of Varadero.Matanzas is called the...
, Cuba. He said that the school's library inspired his early literary inspiration. At fifteen, Vitier moved with his family to Havana and attended La Luz, a private school, and later a public secondary school. In 1947, he graduated as an attorney from the University of Havana
University of Havana
The University of Havana or UH is a university located in the Vedado district of Havana, Cuba. Founded in 1728, the University of Havana is the oldest university in Cuba, and one of the first to be founded in the Americas...
.
Vitier founded the journal Luz, allowing him to publish his work. At 17, he published "Poemas", a book of his poetry. Poet Juan Ramón Jiménez
Juan Ramón Jiménez
Juan Ramón Jiménez Mantecón was a Spanish poet, a prolific writer who received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1956. One of Jiménez's most important contributions to modern poetry was his advocacy of the French concept of "pure poetry."-Biography:Jiménez was born in Moguer, near Huelva, in...
, who was in exile
Exile
Exile means to be away from one's home , while either being explicitly refused permission to return and/or being threatened with imprisonment or death upon return...
at the time, wrote the introduction and chose the poems.
Career
Vitier began as a writer of hermeticHermetics
Hermetics is the deliberate use of exceedingly obscure, convoluted, or esoteric literary or graphical symbolism and imagery....
poetry. Other themes in his poetry included the nature of poetry, the function of memory, and the role of language in the creative process. After 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...
's revolution, critics said that Vitier captured the spirit of the revolution without resorting to propaganda
Propaganda
Propaganda is a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position so as to benefit oneself or one's group....
.
Vitier helped start the American poetry magazine "Origin
Origin (magazine)
Origin magazine, is an American poetry magazine that was founded in 1951 by Cid Corman. The magazine provided an early platform for the work of Charles Olson, Robert Creeley, Gary Snyder, Theodore Enslin and other important, ground-breaking poets, who collectively created an alternative to academic...
". Among his works are the books of poetry: "Extrañeza de estar" ("The wonder of being", 1944); "Vísperas" ("Vespers
Vespers
Vespers is the evening prayer service in the Western Catholic, Eastern Catholic, and Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, and Lutheran liturgies of the canonical hours...
", 1953); "Canto llano" ("Plain song", 1956); "Testimonios" (1968), an anthology of his works from 1953 to 1968; "La Fecha al Pie" (1981) covering his works from 1969 to 1975; "Antología Poética" (1981); and "Poemas de Mayo a Junio" (1990).
The most prominent of his works on Cuban poetry are "Cincuenta años de poesía cubana, 1902–1952" ("Fifty years of Cuban poetry, 1902–1952"), "Lo cubano en la poesía" ("The Cuban element in poetry", 1958), as well as the novel "Peña Pobre".
Vitier won the National Prize for Literature in 1988, the José Martí Order awarded by the Cuban Council of State, the 2002 Juan Rulfo Prize, and the medal of the Cuban Academy of Sciences
Cuban Academy of Sciences
The Academy of Sciences of Cuba , founded on May 19, 1861 with its headquarters in the National Capitol building in Havana, is Cuba's Academy of Sciences...
. He also received the title of Official of Arts and Letters of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
Family and later life
Vitier's son is Sergio Vitier one of the most important composers in Latin Americaand Jose Maria Vitier a well-known composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
.
To celebrate his last birthday, a bibliographic exhibition was opened at the Cuban National Library.
Vitier died on October 1, 2009, at age 88 in Havana
Havana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
. He had made an appearance the week before with his wife, poet Fina García Marruz. His death was first reported by local television stations without additional details. Fidel and Raul Castro
Raúl Castro
Raúl Modesto Castro Ruz is a Cuban politician and revolutionary who has been President of the Council of State of Cuba and the President of the Council of Ministers of Cuba since 2008; he previously exercised presidential powers in an acting capacity from 2006 to 2008...
sent floral wreaths dedicated to Vitier.