Guillermo Cabrera Infante

Date of Birth: April 22, 1929

Zodiac Sign: Taurus

Date of Death: February 21, 2005

Biography

Guillermo Cabrera Infante was a renowned Cuban novelist, essayist, and screenwriter, best known for his innovative and playful use of language. Born on April 22, 1929, in Gibara, Cuba, he moved to Havana in 1941, where he got involved in the burgeoning literary and cultural scene. Cabrera Infante’s literary career began with his work as a film critic under the pseudonym G. Caín. He became a prominent figure in Cuban literature through his novels, essays, and numerous short stories. His most famous work, “Three Trapped Tigers” (“Tres tristes tigres”), published in 1967, is a landmark in Latin American literature, often compared to James Joyce’s “Ulysses” for its linguistic experimentation and narrative complexity. The novel is a vibrant depiction of Havana’s nightlife in the 1950s and showcases Cabrera Infante’s talent for wordplay and humor. After the Cuban Revolution, Cabrera Infante initially supported Fidel Castro but became disillusioned with the regime and went into exile in 1965. He lived in Madrid and later settled in London, where he continued to write and critique the Castro government. His other notable works include “View of Dawn in the Tropics” (“Vista del amanecer en el trópico”), “Holy Smoke” (“Puro humo”), and “Infante’s Inferno.” Guillermo Cabrera Infante passed away on February 21, 2005, in London, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most influential and original voices in Latin American literature.

5 Interesting Facts about Guillermo Cabrera Infante

1. Guillermo Cabrera Infante initially supported the Cuban Revolution but became a vocal critic of Fidel Castro’s regime after going into exile.

2. He won the prestigious Cervantes Prize in 1997, which is often referred to as the Spanish-speaking world’s equivalent of the Nobel Prize in Literature.

3. Cabrera Infante’s novel “Three Trapped Tigers” is known for its experimental style and has been translated into multiple languages.

4. He used various pseudonyms throughout his career, including G. Caín, which he used for his film criticism.

5. Cabrera Infante was also a noted translator, having translated works by James Joyce and other English-language authors into Spanish.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Guillermo Cabrera Infante

1. “I think writers, by nature, are more observers instead of participators.”

2. “Writing is a consecration, it is a kind of sacrament.”

3. “I have never been able to forget Cuba, although I live in exile.”

4. “Language is my homeland; I belong to the language.”

5. “Censorship is the mother of metaphor.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

The highest net worth achieved by Guillermo Cabrera Infante is not widely documented, but he was well-regarded and financially secure through his literary prizes and works.

Children

Guillermo Cabrera Infante had two daughters, Ana and Carola, with his first wife Marta Calvo. He later married Miriam Gómez, an actress and writer, but they did not have any children together.