Carlos Alberto Montaner, a renowned writer and prominent opponent of the Castro regime, passed away on June 29 at the age of 80 in his Madrid home. Montaner, who escaped Cuba shortly after the Communist revolution, had been battling progressive supranuclear palsy, a neurological disease similar to Parkinson’s. His son, Carlos, confirmed his death, attributing it to euthanasia.
In a column published four days after his passing, Montaner commended Spain for legalizing euthanasia in cases of terminal illness, expressing his gratitude for being able to fulfill his wish to die in Madrid while still retaining his capacity to express his will.
Throughout his career as a novelist, essayist, and political commentator, Montaner was known for his fierce criticism of the Castro government and his staunch defense of classical liberalism. He played a crucial role in representing the aspirations, frustrations, and views of Cuban exiles, earning the admiration of anti-Communist conservatives in the United States and Europe. Montaner perceived the situation in Cuba as part of a broader global conflict between dictatorships and liberal democracies, emphasizing the moral responsibility of democratic nations to support those suffering under totalitarian regimes.
Montaner’s writings appeared in esteemed conservative publications like The Wall Street Journal, and he cultivated friendships with like-minded Latin American intellectuals such as Mario Vargas Llosa. He also served as a commentator for CNN en Español and regularly contributed to The Miami Herald.
Despite his contributions and influence, Montaner faced criticism from both Cuban exiles on the far right and left-wing detractors. While his endorsement of Joe Biden in 2020 drew ire from right-wing Cuban exiles who accused Biden of being a socialist, the far left propagated the longstanding Castro regime propaganda that Montaner was a tool of the C.I.A.
Montaner left behind an extensive literary legacy, having authored over 25 books, including novels, essays, and a memoir titled “Sin Ir Más Lejos” (“Without Going Further”) published in 2019. His works, such as “Perromundo” (“Dog World”), explored themes of exile and the existential dilemmas faced by individuals oppressed by totalitarianism. Montaner’s nonfiction writing challenged the traditional leftist narrative of Latin America being under the thumb of the United States.
One of his most renowned works, “Manual del Perfecto Idiota Latinoamericano” (“Guide to the Perfect Latin American Idiot”), co-written with Alvaro Vargas Llosa and Plinio Apuleyo Mendoza, highlighted how dogmatic beliefs perpetuated by individuals played a role in driving Latin American countries into poverty and stagnation.
Carlos Alberto Montaner Suris was born on April 3, 1943, in Havana, to Ernesto Montaner, a journalist, and Manola (Suris) Montaner, a teacher. Initially, Montaner supported Fidel Castro’s revolution but quickly turned against the Communists and joined an anti-Castro rebel group. He was imprisoned in 1960 at the age of 17 but managed to escape and sought refuge in the Honduran Embassy, where he stayed with 125 other dissidents. In September 1961, Montaner finally fled to Miami.
Montaner pursued Hispanic American literature at the University of Miami, after which he taught American literature at the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico in San Juan. In 1970, he relocated to Madrid and founded his publishing house, Editorial Playor. Despite residing in Spain, Montaner frequently visited Miami and established himself as a prominent political commentator.
While generally moderate in his opinions, Montaner found himself in a controversy in 1990 when he made remarks on a Univision news program attributing poverty among Puerto Ricans in the United States to single mothers reliant on welfare. Although he later apologized, several Puerto Rican groups called for Univision to remove Montaner from the program. While the network stood by him, El Diario, the largest Spanish-language newspaper in the United States, terminated his column.
Montaner is survived by his wife, Linda Periut, his son, Carlos, his daughter, Gina, his brother, Ernesto, and three granddaughters. Despite the triumphs and setbacks he witnessed, Montaner remained hopeful for a democratic transition in Cuba. However, he acknowledged that his decades-long optimism had left him emotionally uprooted, having failed to fully adapt to Miami or Madrid due to his persistent belief in an imminent return to Havana.
In conclusion, Carlos Alberto Montaner was a respected writer whose contributions to literature and political commentary earned him recognition as an influential figure in the Cuban exile community. His fearless criticism of the Castro government and advocacy for classical liberalism left a lasting impact, and his writings continue to inspire and challenge prevailing narratives. Montaner’s passing marks the end of an era, but his ideas and legacy will endure.
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