Martí, << mahr TEE, >> José Julián (1853-1895), was a Cuban political activist, journalist, and author. He was devoted to achieving Cuba’s independence from Spain.
Martí was a leader in the Modernist movement in Spanish literature, (see Latin American literature (Modernism) ). All of Martí’s writing is characterized by rhythmic flow and an original choice of words. His poetry and especially his prose represent an effort by the Modernist movement to give literary Spanish a new beauty. His poetry collections Ismaelillo (1882) and Simple Verses (1891) attempt to move beyond the romanticism of the time. His eloquent political writings were influential in Spanish America.
Martí was born on Jan. 28, 1853, in Havana. He lived in exile in the United States from 1881 to 1895. He was killed on May 19, 1895, during a battle with the Spaniards.
