José Lezama Lima (1910-1976) was one of the most important Cuban writers of the twentieth century. He was appointed director of the Department of Literature and Publications of the National Cultural Council after the ascension of the Castro regime, but later fell out of favor for the frank discussion of homosexuality and apolitical content of his masterpiece, Paradiso. A poet and novelist, his work has had a lasting influence on Cuban and world literature.

Gregory Rabassa is one of the most renowned translators of both Spanish and Portuguese literature. He has translated books by Gabriel García Márquez, Julio Cortázar, António Lobo Antunes, and Osman Lins, among many others.

"Paradiso has the 'leaps of imagination' which have come to associated with the best contemporary Spanish literature." -- Jack Friedman, Village Voice
"The wonder of Paradiso is
the rediscovery of the world of words, not as a tool but as an art form
in its own right. The rediscovery of an ancient and profound need, the
solace of language. . . . Paradiso triumphs as a work of pure
aestheticism, of absolute digression and linguistic tour de force." -- Peter Moscoso-Gongora, Nation
"[An]
extraordinary novel . . . written by Cuba's leading poet. . . . There
is scarcely a line in the entire narrative that could be mistaken for
anyone else's writing. . . . Lezama's language is reckless, voluptuous,
sly and unrelentingly sexual. . . . A masterpiece of the modern Spanish
Baroque." -- Edmund White, New York Times

Publisher: Dalkey Archive Press

Pub date: 2005-12-03

Length: 466 pages