Luis Rogelio Nogueras Novel Featured at Sábado del Libro

The novel Y si muero mañana, by Luis Rogelio Nogueras and published by Ediciones Loynaz, will be presented on June 6 as part of the traditional Sábado del Libro program, held on Calle de Madera in Havana’s Historic Center.

With a masterful blend of detective fiction, suspense, and espionage, Nogueras crafts a gripping narrative centered on Ricardo Solana (Agent Bruno) and his unwavering commitment to duty.

According to a press release, despite the dangers he faces, the protagonist succeeds in foiling terrorist operations carried out against his people since the early years of the Revolution.

Online sources note that 1977 marked a turning point in the career of Nogueras, known as Wichy, when the novel won the Cirilo Villaverde National Novel Prize, awarded by the Cuban Writers and Artists Union (UNEAC). It was the first work in the genre to receive the honor.

In 1978, Nogueras read excerpts from Y si muero mañana during workshops held in conjunction with the Casa de las Américas Prize, where he met with Argentine writer Julio Cortázar.

The novel’s first two editions, published by Letras Cubanas, had print runs of 40,000 and 70,000 copies, respectively.

In an interview with journalist Orlando Castellanos, Wichy stated: “I am particularly interested in what we broadly call crime fiction, although I believe it can be divided into detective fiction and counterespionage. I think contemporary Cuban detective fiction can, in certain respects, attain remarkable artistic quality.”

Biographical accounts indicate that he was raised in a family of writers who fostered his love of reading and writing from an early age. Over the years, this prolific author distinguished himself as both a poet and a novelist. Y si muero mañana remains one of his most acclaimed works, having sold nearly 700,000 copies worldwide.

Translated by Luis E. Amador Dominguez