The Poet Slave of Cuba: A biography of Juan Francisco Manjano by Margarita Engle

Unless the student is exceptional, or they are really interested in a particular person, it is difficult to interest students in random biographies. Typically, biographies are not all that interesting. This biography, however, changes that. I had never heard of Juan Francisco Manjano. I must admit, I was not all that eager to read his biography. However, with his story told through poems, like the ones he wrote in his lifetime, and through different perspectives of those important in his life, such as his mother, Dona Beatriz; his father, Turibio and his jealous second owner La Marquesa de Prado Ameno, I learned about a remarkable human being I may have never heard of otherwise.

For students, I see this book being a wonderful way to discuss the complexities of slavery. The relationships between slave and owner are hard for us to really understand since they are not part of our own experiences. The fact that, as told in the story, slaves were treated like pets or could be envied by their owners seems incredible. The beliefs, duties and restrictions of the upper class are also described. Slavery and beliefs of the people at the time, almost robbed us of the work and art of this wonderful poet. A lot can be learned from his story.