El Color del Verano

Novela póstuma de Reinaldo Arenas, revisada la edición por el escritor cubano Carlos Victoria a quien Reinaldo dejó encargado de este trabajo.

Es pleno verano y en la isla de Cuba comienza el gran carnaval que festeja los cincuenta anos en el poder de Fifo, dictador ya viejo y enloquecido. Con agilidad y sarcasmo, en un relato lleno de divertidos guiños al lector, el escritor cubano Reinaldo Arenas (Holguín, 1943-Nueva York, 1990) describe los actos desaforados que se han programado en homenaje al tirano, y también la vida subterránea de una juventud desgarrada, erotizada pero que se niega a aceptar la prisión en que se ha convertido la isla. Los atropellos y luchas de los que se arriman al poder, la represión, las triquiñuelas para sobrevivir en la miseria, todo estalla durante la gran fiesta, y se desencadenan los deseos más desinhibidos, los rencores, las intrigas y el miedo. Porque, entre burlas y veras, El color del verano, novela testimonial, narra el horror y la imposibilidad de acceder a un futuro mejor. El autor, enfermo de Sida, se suicidó en Nueva York y dejó una carta haciendo responsable de su muerte a Fidel Castro, por las desgracias de su vida, su enfermedad y suicidio.

Posthumous novel by Reinaldo Arenas, revised edition by Cuban writer Carlos Victoria, whom Reinaldo left in charge of this work.

It is midsummer and the great carnival begins on the island of Cuba that celebrates fifty years in power of Fifo, an old and mad dictator. With agility and sarcasm, in a story full of funny winks to the reader, the Cuban writer Reinaldo Arenas (Holguín, 1943-New York, 1990) describes the outrageous acts that have been programmed in homage to the tyrant, and also "the underground life of a youth torn apart, eroticized but refusing to accept the prison that the island has become. The outrages and struggles of those who are close to power, repression, tricks to survive in misery, everything explodes during the great party, and the most uninhibited desires, resentments, intrigues and fear are unleashed. Because, between ridicule and you will see, El color del verano, a testimonial novel, narrates the horror and the impossibility of accessing a better future. The author, sick with AIDS, committed suicide in New York and left a letter making Fidel Castro responsible for his death, due to the misfortunes of his life, his illness and suicide.

It is summer and on the island of Cuba began the great carnival that celebrates fifty years in the power of Fifo, old and mad dictator. With agility and sarcasm, the Cuban writer Reinaldo Arenas describes the outrageous actions that are planned in honor of the tyrant, and also presents a youth who refuses to accept that the island has become a prison. The abuses and struggles of those who cuddle up to power, repression, the tricks to survive in misery, everything explodes during the big party, and occur less inhibited desire, resentment, intrigue and fear.