The overflowing center; (dis)encounters of Guillermo Cabrera Infante with geography and history

Abstract

This article proposes an exploration of the representations of Havana in the work of Guillermo Cabrera Infante, highlighting the contrast between the pre- and post-revolutionary perspectives of the city. The author's fictions, such as Tres tristes tigres (1967) and La Habana para un infante difunto (1979), are distinguished by their clever use of language and focus on the geography of the city rather than its history. Following his breaking-off with the Cuban Revolution and his subsequent exile, Cabrera Infante offers a nostalgic vision of pre-revolutionary Havana. His work, rich in wordplay and references to Caribbean culture, reflects both his struggle against the Castro regime and his deep connection with Havana, a city that constitutes a hub of both Cuban and Caribbean space.