ENGLEWOOD, N.J., Jan. 19, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- In his new book Back to Cuba: The Return of the Butterflies, exiled Cuban artist Elio F. Beltran proves he is as adept with the pen as with the brush. He creates a painting of vivid memories tracing his childhood in an impoverished town, his youth and his turbulent years as a student during the revolution. When the award-winning artist was able to set foot in his homeland forty-two years later, his novel, initially inspired by nostalgic childhood memories remembered during his exile, developed into a story of a land and a people gripped by a tyrannical rule.
As a student activist, Beltran had a brief and revealing encounter with then student leader Fidel Castro. Looking back at the dramatic aftermath of that fateful meeting, Beltran gives provocative insights on the contemporary history of Cuba before and after the revolution. Even as the United States government tries to reinstate policies that isolate Cuba, Beltran reveals the true purpose behind Fidel Castro's reign of terror. Furthermore, he shows us what the United States government could still do to render Castro's regime totally ineffective in its attempts to discredit America, by focusing on policies that would go beyond the local political agenda in South Florida-new initiatives and policies that could ultimately contribute to the regime's demise.
Like his paintings, Back to Cuba captures the happy and unforgettable memories of his childhood, as well as the experience of separation from his home country. His story goes beyond the scope of just one man, touching on themes with which all of us are familiar: the loss of a friend, disillusionment and ultimately, hope. As Beltran says, his story is about love and passions, the kind that divide family and friends.
About the Author
The author was born in the colorful town of Regla, across the bay from Havana, in 1929. His childhood was filled with images of urban and countryside landscapes enmeshed with the interesting people he grew up around in the peaceful innocent years in the aftermath of the depression.
He lived the experiences of his formative years as a student in pre-revolutionary Cuba during times of political uncertainties where gangs were used as a crucible for future political power without regard for life or death in the process. In that environment he had a brief uneventful but revealing encounter where he confronted the then emerging student leader Fidel Castro.
After living through the initial revolutionary process he left Cuba for exile in 1960 and became an American Citizen in 1965.
Elio Beltran's recreation of childhood memories in painting served as a refuge while the sad agony of his country lingers without a return to freedom and democracy. His paintings, some of which are part of the illustration of his book are also part and important private and museum collections in the U.S. and abroad. His book entitled Back to Cuba: The Return of the Butterflies is a revealing account of more than forty-two years of exile after which he decides to go back to visit Cuba, and return with a new assessment about a suffering people and, with it, he is able to place under the spot light what he sees as the lack of appropriate policies in the part of the exile leadership as well as that of the U.S. government to deal successfully against Castro while, at the same time, giving true support and solidarity to the oppressed Cuban people.
In 1996 Beltran started to write the memories of his childhood years, memories that through the years as an exile had given way to many of his celebrated paintings; he could not stop writing since then and it became a book beyond the innocent and happy childhood years. Over all, his book gives provocative insights on the contemporary history of Cuba before and after the revolution. The author recently said about his book: "There are revelations inside the book dialogues that should demonstrate the evidence of failures and need for a change of the policies used in dealing with Castro after forty-six years and ten administrations in the USA. It is time for an intelligent evaluation of the policies and for the American government to make a declaration of principles in favor of the oppressed Cuban people on the island and move towards the implementation of really effective policies to help bring about a democratic system in the island that all lovers of freedom desire. The time is right for it."
Even now, as the United States government tries to reinstate policies that isolate Cuba, Beltran in Back to Cuba reveals the true purpose behind Fidel Castro's reign of terror, and what the U.S. government can still do to render his regime ineffective in its ways to discredit America, by focusing on policies that would go beyond the local political agenda in South Florida and contribute decisively to the regime's own demise.
Cuban-American author and artist Elio F. Beltran have received many awards during his career, among them from the N.J. State Council on the Arts, The Institute of International Education, Cintas Award and more recently after writing his book, he was the recipient of the silver medal award from the French academy of Arts Sciences and Letters in Paris. He continues to pursuit his career endeavors in Andalusia, Spain and in the United States where he lives with his Spanish-American wife since 1994. He has been participating in occasional lectures about his book since July 2004 when he did the first presentation of Back to Cuba in Omaha, Nebraska.
Back to Cuba by Elio F. Beltran
The Return of the Butterflies
Publication Date: October 15, 2004
Trade Paperback; $22.99; 352 pages; 1-4010-9167-9
Cloth Hardback; $32.99; 352 pages; 1-4010-9168-7
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