The 28th Havana International Book Fair, one of the most eagerly awaited events for literature lovers, will take place February 7-17 at its usual headquarters in the San Carlos de la Cabaña Historical Military Park. With a special theme this time, it will be dedicated to the Cuban capital’s 500th anniversary. As always publishers, translators, designers, illustrators, authors, distributors and the general public will be able to enjoy a space designed to exhibit, sell and promote the best of Cuban and international literature.
It will once again provide an intimate space for the public to meet with prestigious authors and academics, the protagonists of the varied and intensive program of book presentations, workshops, conferences and debate tables. These are complemented by a varied parallel cultural and artistic program that characterizes the event and includes something for everyone attending the fair.
This year’s guest country of honor is the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, a country with which Cuba has historical links and extensive bilateral relations. This year’s fair will also pay tribute to the recognized work of the Cuban writer Eduardo Heras León, winner of the National Literature Award (2014) and the National Award for Editing (2001), Eduardo Heras León has had a broad and fruitful career within Cuban literature. He holds a degree in Philology and Journalism from the University of Havana, where he taught Hispanic American Literature, Journalism and History. He founded the Onelio Jorge Cardoso Literary Training Workshop in 1998, which has now become the Literary Training Center. He was a literature and dance critic for the national publications Granma, Juventud Rebelde, Revolución y Cultura, Unión, Casa, Cuba en el Ballet, and for foreign publications in Mexico and Spain among other countries.
He has published numerous books, among them: La guerra tuvo seis nombres (The War Had Six Names) Fiction, David Prize awarded by the Cuban Artists and Writers Union (UNEAC), 1968 Los pasos en la hierba (Steps in the Grass) Fiction, Special Mention, CASA Prize 1970) Acero (Steel) Fiction, Ed. Letras Cubanas, 1977) A Fuego Limpio (Clean Fire) Fictions, Ed. Letras Cubanas, 1981 Cuestión de principio (A Question of Principle) Fiction, Premio Nacional UNEAC 1983 and Premio Nacional de la Crítica 1986. He has won numerous awards and national and international recognitions among them the Premio de la Crítica (critic’s prize), Premio Nacional de Edición 2001 (editing prize), Concurso Alejo Carpentier, Premio Nacional de Literatura de Colombia (Colombian national literature prize) and Premio Internacional Casa del Teatro de Santo Domingo among others.
He received a Distinction for National Culture in 1990 and the 25-Year Plaque from the Central University of Colombia. Some of his stories, as co-writer, have been made into movies: Cuestión de principio and La nueva guerra. The first won an award at the Havana International Festival of New Latin American Cinema.
He is currently First Vice President of the UNEAC Writers Association.