Edmundo Desnoes was the author of the novel “Memorias del subdesarrollo,” which was adapted into an acclaimed film.
- Died: December 6, 2023 (Who else died on December 6?)
- Details of death: Died in New York City at the age of 93.
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Edmundo Desnoes’s legacy
Born in Cuba, Desnoes initially embraced the Cuban Revolution. However, as communism developed in Cuba, he became increasingly disenchanted with it, and his 1965 novel “Memorias del subdesarrollo” reflects that disenchantment. Translated both as “Inconsolable Memories” and “Memories of Underdevelopment,” the book rails against the revolution, from the point of view of a member of the bourgeoisie. “Memorias del subdesarrollo” was adapted into a 1968 film directed by Tomás Gutiérrez Alea, with Desnoes co-writing the screenplay, and it has been acclaimed as one of the great Cuban films.
In 1979, Desnoes had an opportunity to travel to Italy for the Venice Biennale film festival. While he was out of Cuba, he defected, ultimately settling in New York City. He taught at Dartmouth, and in 2007, he published the novel “Memorias del desarrollo” (“Memories of Development”). Desnoes is survived by his longtime partner, author Felicia Rosshandler.
Notable quote
“In language, you think that a word is a thing. When you say ‘stone’, it’s a stone, but when you know that it’s ‘piedra’ in Spanish, it means that language is not linked absolutely to reality.” —from a 2013 interview for the Guardian
Tributes to Edmundo Desnoes
Full obituary: El País
