Juan Manuel Salvat Roque, the influential Cuban editor and bookseller known for his tireless work in preserving and promoting Cuban literature, passed away on Tuesday in Miami at the age of 84.
His passing was due to complications related to a diabetic coma, following a week of hospitalization at Doctor Hospital in Coral Gables, according to sources close to the family.
Salvat, founder of Ediciones Universal and the Librería Universal, was a fundamental pillar of Cuban culture in exile, Martí Noticias recalled.
"With the death of Salvat, a pillar of the promotion of Cuban literature and culture in exile disappears, along with an tireless activist for the democratization of Cuba," stated the renowned Cuban journalist Wilfredo Cancio.
Born in Sagua la Grande, Cuba, in 1940, he distinguished himself from a young age for his anti-Castro activism and was a prominent student leader at the University of Havana.
In 1960, after being expelled from the university due to his political activities, he managed to escape from Cuba and reach the United States, where he continued his struggle against the Castro regime.
In 1965, he founded Distribuidora Universal, which later became Ediciones Universal, and in 1969, he opened Librería Universal on the iconic Calle Ocho in Miami.
The bookstore became a cultural and literary hub for exiled Cubans, providing a space for the dissemination of works by Cuban authors and encouraging intellectual and political debate.
Salvat published over 1,000 titles, significantly contributing to the preservation of Cuba's literary memory and providing Cuban writers with a space to share their voices in a censorship-free environment.
His editorial work was crucial for generations of Cubans in exile to access the works of their fellow countrymen while also preserving the island's literary culture.
Despite the closure of its physical bookstore in 2013, Ediciones Universal continued to operate, and its presence at international literary events, such as the Miami International Book Fair, solidified its role as one of the most important publishing houses for Cuban literature outside the island.
The writer Zoé Valdés, a close friend of Salvat, remembered him as "a great Cuban, a great patriot, a fighter for the freedom of Cuba until his last days." Meanwhile, the president of the PEN of Cuban Writers in Exile, Daniel Pedreira, emphasized that without his editorial work, "the literary wealth of the Cuban exile would not exist as we know it today."
Salvat was also remembered for his commitment to Cuban culture, not only as a publisher and bookseller but as an unwavering advocate for democracy and freedom in Cuba. His legacy endures in every published book and in the memory of all Cubans who saw him as a guardian of their history and identity.
The Cuban literary community is in mourning for the loss of this iconic cultural leader, who will always be remembered for his invaluable contribution to the Cuban exile community and the preservation of Cuba's historical memory. Rest in peace, dear Juan Manuel Salvat.
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