This Saturday, August 15, at 11:30 a.m., the book “Discovering Martí in New York” by Ambassador Rodolfo Benítez Verson, will be presented as a contribution from the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the 2026 Havana International Book Fair.
The event will take place at the Cultural Center at Línea and 18th Streets, Vedado, and will be hosted by Michel Torres Corona. The book will be presented by Lil María Pichs, a young researcher with the Martí Program.
“Discovering Martí in New York,” published jointly by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Center for Martí Studies, is the most comprehensive and complete work written to date on the life of José Martí during the 15 years he lived in New York. This is a veritable encyclopedia of Martí's American sphere, bringing us closer to the private and public man with astonishing detail.
It sheds light on little-known aspects, corrects errors, and uncovers new and valuable information, previously unknown, about Martí in New York. Readers will be able to discover and "see" the places where the Apostle lived, worked, ate, strolled, wrote, spoke, taught, met, and prepared for the war for Cuban independence. They will discover his habits and tastes; his worries, ailments, and joys; his loves and friends in the Big Apple. They will be amazed by the many places and objects in New York that remain exactly as he knew them.
The result of more than 25 years of meticulous research and countless visits by the author to places in New York connected with José Martí, this book, written in an engaging style and featuring impressive graphic information, including nearly 500 photos and documents, will be enjoyed and appreciated by all readers.
The book “Discovering Martí in New York” received the 2025 National Prize in Social Sciences and Humanities from the Cuban Academy of Sciences.
On the occasion of its presentation at the Book Fair on Saturday, August 15, the book will be available in both print and digital versions.
