Acknowledgments  ix

Note on Translations  xiii

Prologue. Encountering Arenas  1

1. I Scream, Therefore I Am  7

2. Climbing the Family Tree  36

3. In Search of the Father(land)  65

4. All About Mother  91

5. Facing AIDS  114

Epilogue. After Night Falls  148

Notes  173

Works Cited  203

Index  231

"Clearly the product of years of research and reflection, this is by far the most thorough, persuasive, and profound account of Arenas's career to date. The author's mastery of writings by and about Arenas is impressive. The discussion of Arenas's fiction and nonfiction, focused on what Olivares calls 'paternal erotics,' is always instructive and often quite brilliant. The use of Arenas's unpublished materials, including early drafts of published works, not only throws new light on his published fiction but allows the reader to become acquainted with a largely unknown corpus of writing. As in the best criticism, there is an intimacy between observer and observed that, without leading to uncritical appreciation, makes for a memorable reading experience."—Gustavo Pérez Firmat, author of The Havana Habit

"Jorge Olivares’s book reads like an engrossing novel whose main character—the phenomenally talented Reinaldo Arenas—has a vitality and genius that haunt our imagination. This very personal, and relevant, work of literary criticism is a fitting tribute to a brave and great writer."—Jaime Manrique, author of Eminent Maricones: Arenas, Lorca, Puig, and Me

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