Ser y Esencia de Marti = Being and Essence of Marti

It took Costa, author of Bolivar: Mas all del tiempo y del espacio (Bolivar: A Perspective from Time and Space, Ediciones Universal, 1998), almost an entire lifetime to compile this book about the Cuban writer who inspired the island nation's War of Independence at the end of the 19th century. The book is divided into two main parts: a brief life-and-times biography of Jos Marti and an analysis of his influential poetry, prose, and philosophy. Costa wrote this work over a span of 60 years, during which he evolved from a nationalist patriot saluting his country's hero to a soulful exile trying to make sense of his country's Communist tragedy. But Costa's admiration of Marti restrains him from any critical observations of the leader. While he tries to show that Marti was an ordinary man who did extraordinary things for his time, Costa too often marvels at his subject. He writes, ""We can't evaluate him within the parameters of common men. He was beyond normal. He was a superior being, an evolved spirit."" Still, this is a fine treatise on Marti's legendary internationalism and provides keen insight into the Cuban leader's almost prophetic vision of the island's complex relations with the United States. Recommended for both academic and public libraries and large bookstores serving customers interested in Cuba.--Oscar Corral, Queens, NY