Eminent Maricones: Arenas, Lorca, Puig, and Me

by Jaime Manrique

Jaime Manrique weaves into his own memoir the lives of three important twentieth-century Hispanic the Argentine Manuel Puig, author of Kiss of the Spider Woman ; the Cuban Reinaldo Arenas, author of Before Night Falls ; and Spanish poet and playwright Federico García Lorca. Manrique celebrates the lives of these heroic writers who were made outcasts for both their homosexuality and their politics.

"Manrique's double vision yields insights into Puig, Arenas, and Lorca unavailable to a writer less attuned to the complex interplay of culture and sexuality, as well as that of race and class in Latino and Anglo societies."—George DeStefano, The Nation


"A splendid memoir of Manuel Puig. It evokes him—how he really was—better than anything I've read."—Susan Sontag



"Where Manrique's tale differs from others is in its unabashed and sensitive treatment of sexuality. One reads his autobiographical account with pleasure and fascination."—Jose Quiroga, George Washington University



"Manrique's voice is wise, brave, and wholly original. This chronicle of self-discovery and literary encounters is heartening and deep."—Kennedy Fraser



"In this charmingly indiscreet memoir, Jaime Manrique writes with his customary humor and warm sympathy, engaging our delighted interest on every page. He has the rare gift of invoking and inviting intimacy, in this case a triangulated intimacy between himself, his readers, and his memories. These are rich double portraits."—Phillip Lopate

Genres: LGBT, Memoir, Biography, Nonfiction

116 pages, Paperback

First published April 19, 1999

About the author

Jaime Manrique (16 June 1949 - ) Colombian American author, poet, and journalist.

Reviews

[Antonio Parrilla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Haciendo biografías parciales -y enfocadas en una perspectiva homosexual, lo cual me parece maravilloso- de otros escritores, Manrique, al que no conocía, consigue hacer una propia. Es un acercamiento bastante irreverente que me ha gustado mucho.

PD. El libro ya se justifica entero solo como páginas extra a cuando me dice que Lorca tenía un pollón.

[Lea · Rating 4 out of 5]

certainly very interesting for everyone with an interest in but no extensive knowledge of gay hispanic literature, İ ended up ordering several of the books mentioned here. The writing style is humorous and light like conversation over a cup of coffee, though İ find some political observations rather simplistic and the occasionally very "columnist from New York" type of narration might inspire an eyeroll or two, but those are only minor critiques

[andreaaaa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think Manrique wrote this book much ahead of his time, and I find that brave and breathtaking and absolutely daringly brilliant.

This books is tragic and beautiful and inspiring. I’ve added at least 10 other books to read to my long long list, since reading it.

Manrique brought to life some of the greatest men in Spanish (Latino too) literature in the 20th century all the while exploring and showcasing how difficult and oppressive the world was and unfortunately still is towards anyone who doesn’t conform.

I recommend this book as an homage , as a great work of poetry, and of course as a memoir and a daring and inspiring queer work, especially for the time when it was published and written.

[Carlos Mock · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maricones Eminentes: Arenas, Lorca, Puig y yo (Paperback) by Jaime Manrique - Spanish Edition

"Maricón" is the pejorative word in Spanish for homosexuals. This is an interesting book, narrated from the first-person point of view by the author of "Latin Moon in Manhattan."

The first chapter is an autobiography/memoir in which we learn about Manrique's youth.

The second chapter is an essay on Manuel Puig, author of "Kiss of the Spider Woman." It's a personal account of Puig's life - Manrique and Puig were close friends - his dealings with his homosexuality, his triumphs, and his death - probably due to complications of AIDS.

The third chapter talks about the last days of Reinaldo Arenas, author of "Before Night Falls." It shows Manrique's relationship with Arenas and the late author's final days as he was disillusioned with the US and his death from HIV/AIDS.

The fourth chapter is an essay on Federico Garcia-Lorca. I found this chapter quite enlightening because I've known Lorca was gay, but I'd never read anything about his sexual relationships.

The fifth chapter deals with Manrique's search for another Jaime Manrique - an idealized vision of himself that ends up being a disappointment.

The final chapter tries to explain why he wrote the book: trying to accept himself.

I enjoyed it but realize tis is not a book for everyone.

[Samuel Whelpley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lo leí en español. Muy bien escrito, lleno de referencias literarias cultas, desde el título, que es un homenaje a Victorianos eminentes de Lytton Strachey, pasando por la vida de 4 grandes autores: Lorca, Reinaldo Arenas, Manrique y Manuel Puig. Muy bien escrito, es un texto casi perfecto placentero de leer. Digo casi perfecto, porque siempre he pensado que el capítulo dedicado a Reinaldo no está al nivel de los otros. Como ocurre, de hecho, en Victorianos Eminentes con la historia de Thomas Arnold. Me quedo con la duda.

[Paulina Ree · Rating 4 out of 5]

una autobiografia en la que el autor narra tambien un trozo de la vida de grandes autores homosexuales, tales como Manuel Puig, Reinaldo Arenas y Federico Garcia Lorca. una obra muy simpatica.

[Garry · Rating 5 out of 5]

The slender volume titled Eminent Maricones by Jaime Manrique is a charming personal memoir combined with biographical sketches and meditations on the life and work of three gay writers in the Spanish language; Colombian author Manuel Puig, Cuban author Reinaldo Arenas and Spanish poet/playwright Federico Garcia Lorca. Very enjoyable reading and some great insights into the struggles to come out of the closet and fight conservative Catholic as well as Cuban communist controls on how to live your life.

[Harrison Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although less well known than the writers he discusses in this book, Manrique gives a fascinating look at lesser-known facts of their lives. I came away from the read wanting to know more about each author.

[Sergio Agualaboca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maravilloso libro. Y lo es en parte por la -valga la redundancia- maravillosa forma de escribir de Manrique. Detalles hermosos, duros, geniales de su propia vida, nos develan a un escritor homosexual que, a la vez, narra la vida de otros tres escritores homosexuales grandes y talentosos: Manuel Puig, Reinaldo Arenas y Federico García Lorca.