Leonardo Padura was born in 1955 in Havana and lives in Cuba. He has published a number of novels, short story collections and literary essays. International fame came with the Havana Quartet featuring Inspector Mario Conde. The books have won a number of literary prizes, including the Spanish Premio Hammet, and have been translated into various languages including English, French, Italian and German.
Leonardo Padura
The theme of the 2010 International PEN Free the Word! festival is 'Words, Words, Nothing but Words ... ?' How do you interpret this theme?
Like all good themes, this one can be interpreted in many ways. I prefer this interpretation: as this is about a literature festival, it reminds us that the weapon, the enemy, the heart, the sword, the dream, and the life of the writer are words: only words are capable of becoming literature.
Like all good themes, this one can be interpreted in many ways. I prefer this interpretation: as this is about a literature festival, it reminds us that the weapon, the enemy, the heart, the sword, the dream, and the life of the writer are words: only words are capable of becoming literature.
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Where is your favourite place to write?
Without doubt: my house in Mantilla, a small quarter of Havana.
What does freedom of expression mean to you - either personally, in your writing or for the society or country that you come from?
Freedom of expression is the capacity and possibility to express what we feel and think. I believe that this is one of the freedoms which is most suppressed in the world, for many reasons: political, religious, social, circumstantial. In Cuba, where I live and write, complete freedom of expression does not exist, which is why the work of writers to expand the scope of this freedom is even more important: and this can only be achieved with work, and more work.
What have you read that made you want to be a writer/ most influenced your writing?
I believe that the book which I most wish I had written myself is The Count of Montecristo by Dumas... And the one which influenced me the most, I believe was The Catcher in the Rye, by Salinger.
What was the last book that you read?
Oh, I read everything I can lay my hands on. The last important book which I read was 2666, the novel by the Chilean author, Roberto Bolaño
What is your favourite place in London? Or, if you have never visited London before, where are you looking forward to going/seeing?
My favourite place is the British Museum: it is always a revelation, warm and... free.
What living literary figure would you most like to meet?
Milan Kundera.
Recommend a writer who you think everyone should read.
Homer: where it all began.
Leonardo Padura will appear at: the Is Writing a Crime event at Foyles, Thursday 15 April; The Insulting Cabaret at Southwark Playhouse, Friday 16 April; and the Literary Lunch, The Cut Bar at the Young Vic, Sunday 18 April
What does freedom of expression mean to you - either personally, in your writing or for the society or country that you come from?
Freedom of expression is the capacity and possibility to express what we feel and think. I believe that this is one of the freedoms which is most suppressed in the world, for many reasons: political, religious, social, circumstantial. In Cuba, where I live and write, complete freedom of expression does not exist, which is why the work of writers to expand the scope of this freedom is even more important: and this can only be achieved with work, and more work.
What have you read that made you want to be a writer/ most influenced your writing?
I believe that the book which I most wish I had written myself is The Count of Montecristo by Dumas... And the one which influenced me the most, I believe was The Catcher in the Rye, by Salinger.
What was the last book that you read?
Oh, I read everything I can lay my hands on. The last important book which I read was 2666, the novel by the Chilean author, Roberto Bolaño
What is your favourite place in London? Or, if you have never visited London before, where are you looking forward to going/seeing?
My favourite place is the British Museum: it is always a revelation, warm and... free.
What living literary figure would you most like to meet?
Milan Kundera.
Recommend a writer who you think everyone should read.
Homer: where it all began.
Leonardo Padura will appear at: the Is Writing a Crime event at Foyles, Thursday 15 April; The Insulting Cabaret at Southwark Playhouse, Friday 16 April; and the Literary Lunch, The Cut Bar at the Young Vic, Sunday 18 April
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