Eliseo Alberto: 8 Curiosities 75 Years After His Birth

This September 10 marks 75 years since the birth of Eliseo Alberto, a figure who left a profound mark on Latin American literature. Known as Lichi to his friends, he was a journalist, novelist, poet, and screenwriter—a man with a pen as sharp as his outlook on life.

Born in Arroyo Naranjo, Cuba, in 1951, Eliseo Alberto built a body of work that resonated both in his homeland and in Mexico, where he lived in exile from 1990 and adopted citizenship in 2000, according to his Wikipedia biography. Throughout his career, he gifted us with memorable novels like Caracol Beach, which won the Alfaguara Prize, and the impactful Informe contra mí mismo.

But beyond his books and screenplays, Eliseo Alberto's life was full of anecdotes and details that paint the portrait of a fascinating man, full of passions and contradictions. Here are eight curiosities about him you might not have known.

1. His First Novel Was Born from a Bold Lie

Imagine this: a young Eliseo Alberto in the army, leading a platoon, bumps into the director of the Cuban military magazine Verde Olivo. Without a second thought, he blurted out a lie: that he had a novel already written. The director, excited, proposed publishing it in chapters and asked for the first one by the following Friday. The problem? There was no such novel.

Eliseo Alberto himself recounted the story: “That night, I sat down to write, because I didn't have any novel.” Thus, in a marathon session, La fogata roja was born—a story about a platoon of children under General Sandino in Nicaragua. The novel was not only published but also earned him the National Critics' Prize in Havana, an incredible achievement for a work born out of impulse and an impossible deadline, as detailed on Wikipedia.

2. He Forged His Own Literary Path, Away from His Father's Shadow

Eliseo Alberto was the son of Eliseo Diego, one of Cuba's most important poets of the 20th century. Imagine the pressure. He himself admitted to starting out writing “horrible” poetry. But instead of directly following in his famous father's footsteps, he decided to explore other genres. “I thought it would be best to tackle literary genres that Dad had never touched: chronicles, journalism,” he explained, according to the same source.

This decision not only allowed him to forge his own distinct voice but also opened doors to a universe of creative possibilities that would lead him to become a master novelist and screenwriter. It demonstrated that talent, even if inherited, always finds its unique way to flourish. It's a reminder of how artists seek their identity, even when facing powerful family legacies, a theme we've explored with other figures, as we discussed in this article.

3. Chess Was His Lifelong Great Passion

For many, Eliseo Alberto was synonymous with words and stories, but in his heart, another passion competed with literature: chess. He maintained that “chess remains the greatest passion” of his life. As a child, he dreamed of being a great chess player, alongside other aspirations like being a “shipbuilder” and a pianist, the latter two influenced by family tradition, according to Wikipedia.

This lesser-known facet reveals a side of the writer that went beyond letters, showing a strategic mind and a competitive spirit that, without a doubt, also reflected in the construction of his complex narrative plots. Chess, for him, was not just a game but a reflection of life itself.

4. An Extraordinary Cook and Host of a “Community Pot”

Beyond the pages, Eliseo Alberto had a talent few expected: he was an exceptional cook. He learned to cook when he found himself alone with his young daughter and, by his own admission, discovered he was “an extraordinary cook.” Cooking became a refuge and a way to express his generosity.

He recounted that at his home in Mexico City, “every day ten or twelve friends come to eat, almost all of them wandering Cubans, exiles. Starving people who come to the house for their community pot, let's say,” as noted in Wikipedia. He even dreamed of writing a cookbook, which shows how much he enjoyed this art. This image of Eliseo Alberto, the warm host and cook who nourished bodies and souls, is a touching testament to his humanity.

5. “Informe contra mí mismo” Was His Magnum Opus

Of his vast literary output, Eliseo Alberto was clear about what he considered his most important work: Informe contra mí mismo (Report Against Myself). This book, written in 1978 and later published abroad, narrates the complex situation in which Cuban state security asked him to write a report against his own family. He described it as “a book about Cuba, which is only written once.”

He firmly believed that if he were ever remembered, it would be for this work, because “it did good for many people.” In it, he defended “the right to be wrong,” a brave and profoundly human stance in a polarized political context, as the source explains. It stands as a testament to his intellectual honesty and his commitment to personal truth.

6. Self-Critical and Candid About His Screenplays

Despite his success as a screenwriter, especially with the film Guantanamera, directed by Tomás Gutiérrez Alea, Eliseo Alberto was not one to boast. In fact, he was brutally honest about his work in cinema. “I started writing screenplays, some of them awful. I've written several of the worst films ever shot on the planet,” he stated bluntly.

This humility and sense of humor about his own shortcomings is an endearing trait of his personality, making him even more relatable. It shows that even great talents have their moments of doubt and their less successful projects, and they know how to laugh about them—a characteristic we also find in figures like actress Naomie Harris, about whom we shared more in this article.

7. He Shared the Gift of Writing with His Twin Sister

The talent for letters ran in the de Diego García Marruz family. Eliseo Alberto had a twin sister, Josefina de Diego, whom friends called Fefé. She is also a writer, has published a successful children's book, translates from English to Spanish, and compiles the work of their father, Eliseo Diego.

Unlike her brother, Josefina has remained in Cuba, which adds a layer of complexity and contrast to the family story. This twin connection and shared path in writing, yet with distinct life choices, illustrates the richness of a family marked by art and the history of their country, according to Wikipedia.

8. Exile in Mexico Was His Second Home and Source of Inspiration

In 1990, Eliseo Alberto went into exile from Cuba and found a new home in Mexico City. Ten years later, in 2000, he adopted Mexican citizenship, marking a deep commitment to his new land. This change was not only geographical but also vital and creative.

From Mexico, he continued writing, teaching, and sharing his worldview. His apartment in Colonia del Valle became a meeting point for other Cuban exiles, a space for solidarity and creation. Exile, though painful, offered him a new perspective and a place from which to continue telling stories, enriching his work with the experiences of both cultures, as his biography implies.

Why it matters

Eliseo Alberto passed away at 59 in 2011, but his legacy lives on. 75 years after his birth, remembering him is celebrating an authentic voice that dared to explore the complexities of human nature, politics, and identity. His stories, filled with humor and melancholy, invite us to reflect on freedom, exile, and the search for truth, reminding us that literature can be both a mirror and a compass in uncertain times.