The Poet Slave of Cuba

A soft male Hispanic voice begins the multivoiced biography of Cuban poet Juan Francisco Manzano, who lived between 1797 and 1853. Gentle rhythms accentuate the lyricism of Manzano's uniquely beautiful view of the world. Passionate descriptions express his vibrant love of life, learning, and words, despite the limitations of his enslaved childhood. Only later does bitterness creep into his tones as his parents are freed and Juan must serve a second cruel, possessive mistress. The female narrators who portray Juan's two mistresses and his mother more strongly emphasize the poetic form of the text itself. They create haunting tones that convey the pride of Juan's mistresses and the awe his mother had for her son's gifts. This is an audio to be savored by poetry lovers of all ages. S.W. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award (c) AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine