Writings of Cuban author, musicologist, and diplomat
Alejo Carpentier influenced the development of magical realism; his novels include
Lord, Praised Be Thou! (1933) and
The Kingdom of This World (1949).
Alejo Carpentier Blagoobrasoff, an essayist, greatly influenced Latin American literature during its "boom" period.
Perhaps most important intellectual figure of the 20th century, this classically trained pianist and theorist of politics and literature produced avant-garde radio programming. Best known Carpentier also collaborated with such luminaries as
Igor Stravinsky,
Darius Milhaud,
Georges Bataille, and
Antonin Artaud. With Havana, he strongly self-identified throughout his life. People jailed and exiled him, who lived for many years in France and Venezuela but after the revolution of 1959 returned. He died in Paris, but survivors buried his body in Havana.