José María Heredia was born in Santiago de Cuba, Oriente, Cuba, on December 31, 1803. He moved with his family to Havana in 1810 where he studied law and began to write poetry and dramatic works. Because of his independent ideas he suffers exile and dies in Mexico in 1839. He is considered the National Poet of Cuba. This edition was prepared by Dr. Ángel Aparicio Laurencio (1928-) who made the selection, the study and the notes. Dr. Aparicio studied Law at the universities of Havana and Madrid and was Professor Emeritus at the University of Redlands in California.