Anton Arrufat. Author: Roberto Morejon Guerra

Famous Cuban poet, storyteller and playwright Anton Arrufat, winner of the National Literary Prize (2000), has died at the age of 88, the Ministry of Culture announced today.

Born in the eastern city of Santiago de Cuba on August 14, 1935. His family moved to Havana in 1947 when he was 11 years old, from whose university he graduated with a degree in philology.

From a very early age, he was interested in literature and theater. His theatrical production “The Case is Under Investigation”, which premiered in 1957, became a milestone, for the first time combining the heritage of the European avant-garde with folk art on the national stage.

During this stage, he published reviews, plays, stories and poems in the magazine Ciclón. In 1962, his first book, En claro, was published, which collected his youthful poems.

Arrufat worked for Lunes de Revolución, he also founded and directed the prestigious magazine Casa de las Américas for five years; together with a group of intellectuals, he was the founder of the Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba.

His theatrical productions have been translated into Polish, English and French and staged in the USA, Venezuela, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Poland. He has published in Europe, L’Arc, Les Lettres, Quimera, Siempre, Ever green and almost all Cuban magazines.

For his play Los siete contra Tebas (1968), he was awarded the Theater Prize of the Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba (UNEAC).

He received a mention of El vivo al pollo theater and poetry for the final review at the Casa de las Américas award. Permanent Ground (1987) and Party Night (2000).

The outstanding Cuban writer was awarded the Alejo Carpentier medal and the distinction of Cuban culture.

In 2003, the editors of Letras Cubanas published the play Las tres partes del criollo, and in 2005, his collection of essays, El hombre discursivo.

(As reported by Prensa Latina)

Source: Juventud Rebelde