Roberto Fernández Retamar was a prominent poet, essayist, and literary critic, notably serving as President of Casa de las Américas. A central figure in Cuban intellectual life since the 1959 Revolution, his work explores themes of identity, culture, and politics, often through a postcolonial lens. His extensive writings, including numerous poetry collections and influential essays, have shaped discussions on Latin American thought and art. As a leading cultural figure, he championed the region's literary and artistic expressions on a global scale.
Retamar has long served as the Cuban Revolution's primary cultural and literary voice, and is known for his efforts to dismantle Eurocentric colonial and neo-colonial thought. Caliban has become a kind of manifesto for Latin American and Caribbean writers.