José Martí: Cuba's Greatest Hero

by John M. Dunn

All Cubans agree on one José Martí is the "Father of Cuba." He was and remains Cubas national hero. Cubans from all walks life simply call him "The Apostle." Poet, political philosopher, statesman, novelist, journalist, translator, and firebrand revolutionary, Martí was the driving force behind the final Cuban insurrection against Spanish rule in the late nineteenth century. This young adult biography begins with Martí's origins in the mid-nineteenth century Cuba, which was then among the last of Spain's New World possessions. Next, the narrative traces his one-track mission into adulthood as a firebrand, intellectual radical who dies a martyr's death while fighting in Cuba. Martí's remarkable talents emerged in his boyhood. A revulsion against slavery in Cuba and Spains oppressive rule evoked powerful moral response in him. Havana's revolutionary circles drew him in and turned him into a radical in his early teens. Unjustly convicted, imprisoned, and exiled for treason against Spain at 17, he dedicated his life to the ousting Spanish from in Cuba. As an adult, he lived as an expatriate in four nations, honing his skills as journalist, poet, political thinker, and organizer of revolution. More than any other Cuban he motivated the Cuban émigré population, especially in Florida, to take up arms against Spain. He conducted much of the war planning, fund raising, and troop-recruiting in Florida, including cities such as Key West, Tampa, Jacksonville, and Ocala. The book relates Martí's personal story—both his strengths and weaknesses—culminating in a depiction of how at 42 he was killed in action and became a martyr. His legacy remains powerful. Today, both Castro's regime and his opponents in exile claim Martí as their own. For the past 120 years, his standard for leadership has endured. No other Cuban reaches his stature. No one probably ever will.

116 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 1, 2015

About the author

John M. Dunn is an Ocala, Florida-based freelance, writer, journalist and author. He has published over 350 articles for more than twenty periodicals, such as Europe, Overseas Life, Sierra, Off Duty, New Shelter, the Rotarian, LadyCom, the Executive Review, Florida Trend, Business Florida, the Ocala Star Banner, UF Today, and the St. Petersburg Times. In addition, he has written numerous scripts for audiovisual productions and a children’s play which was professionally performed on stages in North Florida. His non-fiction young adult books were published by Lucent Press (Thomson/Gale.) Dunn also edited Union Soldiers, Confederate Soldiers, Southerners, and Northerners, which are part of the Voices of the Civil War series for juvenile readers, published by Blackbirch Press.

The New York Public Library recognized the first edition of Dunn’s book on the removal of North America Indians in its Books for the Teenage List; the second edition received a stared review from the School Library Journal in May 2006. The Pennsylvania State Library Association included Dunn’s book on computers in its “Young Adult Top Forty Nonfiction 2002 Titles.” In addition, The Barahoma Center of California State University San Marcos features his book on Castro in its list of “Recommended Books in English about Latinos.” . In February, 2020, Dunn’s book, Drying Up. The Fresh Water Crisis in Florida was selected as winner of the Florida Historical Society's Stetson Kennedy Award for writing about Florida's natural environment. The book also, has won the Bronze Medal in the 2019 Florida Book Awards, Florida Nonfiction category He has also been profiled in Something About the Author.

He is a father and grandfather and lives with his wife in Ocala, Florida.

Reviews

[Hunter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dry but interesting stuff! Seems like a cool guy