List of Cuban writers

A list of Cuban writers, including novelists, poets, and critics: Cuban authors and writers have influenced and shaped the history of the world. Throughout the years many of their contributions have caused radical shifts: from social movements to global perspectives in the Americas and beyond.

17th century's Cuban writers became the definitive starting point of a newly born country with a brief history in all genres. Years later, José Martí is still considered as the most important writer in Latin America. Today, Cuban authors and writers live in Cuba and abroad. They have contributed, collaborated, and published in literature, history, and all genres. Despite their mutual interests and common differences, all of them have become an invaluable part of Cuba's legacy.

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A

• Brígida Agüero (1837–1866), poet
• Mirta Aguirre (1912–1980), poet, novelist, and journalist
• Magaly Alabau (born 1945), poet
• Dora Alonso (1910–2001), author and journalist
• Reinaldo Arenas (1943–1990), openly gay poet, novelist, and playwright, author of Before Night Falls (Antes que anochezca)

B

• Joaquín Badajoz (born 1972), poet and writer
• Gastón Baquero (1916–1997), poet and writer
• Miguel Barnet, anthropologist and testimonialist
• Antonio Benítez-Rojo (1931–2005), author and critic
• Pedro Luis Boitel (1931–1972), poet and dissident
• Mariano Brull (1891–1956), postmodern poet

C

• Lydia Cabrera (1899–1991), anthropologist and poet
• Guillermo Cabrera Infante (1929–2005), novelist, author of Tres tristes tigres, Cervantes Prize winner
• Onelio Jorge Cardoso (1914–1986), screenwriter and short fiction writer
• Alejo Carpentier (1904–1980), novelist, author of El reino de este mundo, Cervantes Prize winner
• Julián del Casal, 19th-century poet
• Fidel Castro (1926–2016), former President of Cuba
• Daniel Chavarria, Uruguyan-born author
• Daína Chaviano, novelist and short-story writer
• Enrique Cirules (1938–2016), novelist and essayist
• Domitila García de Coronado (1847–1938), writer, journalist, editor, professor

D

• Edmundo Desnoes, novelist, author of Memorias del Subdesarrollo
• Jesús Díaz (1941–2002), novelist, filmmaker, and intellectual, founder of the influential cultural magazine Encuentro

E

• Darío Espina Pérez (October 25, 1920–September 6, 1996), writer, founder and president of La Academia Poética de Miami

F

• Samuel Feijóo (1914–1992), author
• Roberto Fernández Retamar (1930–2019), poet, essayist, and literary critic
• Norberto Fuentes (born 1943), author and journalist

G

• Michael John Garcés (born 1967), playwright and director.
• Gertrudis Gómez de Avellaneda (1814–1873), novelist, playwright, and poet, author of Sab (1842) and Baltasar (1858)
• Justo González (born 1937), author and historian
• Jorge Enrique González Pacheco (born 1969), poet and cultural entrepreneur
• Nicolás Guillén (1902–1989), Afro-Cuban poet
• Pedro Juan Gutiérrez (born 1950) "dirty realist" novelist, poet, and painter

H

• José María Heredia y Heredia (1803–1839), poet
• Georgina Herrera (born 1936), poet

L

• Carilda Oliver Labra (1922–2018), poet
• José Lezama Lima (1910–1976), novelist and poet, author of Paradiso
• Eduardo del Llano (born 1962)

M

• Jorge Mañach (1898–1961), writer
• Juan Francisco Manzano (1797–1854), author and poet
• Dulce María Loynaz (1902–1997), poet, Cervantes Prize winner
• José Martí (1853–1895), poet, journalist, critic, translator, and patriot
• Calixto Martínez, journalist and political prisoner
• Rubén Martínez Villena, writer
• Domingo del Monte (1804–1853), author and literary critic
• Nancy Morejón (born 1944), Afro-Cuban poet
• Dolan Mor (born 1968)

O

• Fernando Ortiz (1881–1969), author and essayist
• Lisandro Otero (1932–2008), novelist and journalist

P

• Heberto Padilla (1932–2000), poet
• Leonardo Padura Fuentes (born 1955), novelist and journalist
• Ricardo Pau-Llosa (born 1954), poet
• Regino Pedroso (1896–1983), poet
• Gustavo Pérez Firmat (born 1949), poet, memoirist, literary critic
• Virgilio Piñera (1912–1979), author, playwright, poet, short-story writer and essayist
• Carlos Pintado (born 1974), poet

R

• Félix Ramos y Duarte (1848–1924), educator, textbook writer and lexicographer
• José Ignacio Rivero (1920–2011), exile journalist
• Raúl Rivero (1945–2021), dissident poet and journalist
• Antonio Rodríguez Salvador (born 1960), poet, fiction writer, dramatist and essayist

S

• Pedro Pérez Sarduy (born 1943), poet, novelist and journalist
• Severo Sarduy (1937–1993), neobaroque poet
• Ana María Simo, playwright, essayist and lesbian activist

U

• Úrsula Céspedes (1832–1874), poet

V

• Zoé Valdés (born 1959), novelist
• Enrique José Varona (1848–1933), author and journalist
• Cirilo Villaverde, novelist, author of Cecilia Valdés (1882)
• Cintio Vitier (1921–2009), poet, essayist and novelist

Z

• Juan Clemente Zenea (1832–1871), author and poet
• Héctor Zumbado, writer, journalist, humorist, and critic

See also

• List of Cuban women writers
• Cuban literature
• List of Cuban American writers
• List of Latin American writers