The Marks of Birth

The Marks of Birth is set in the island of Barata, an imaginary Cuba, and portrays a family caught up in political events. When the revolutionary forces of Nicolás Campión seize power, Antón García-Turner is forced to flee the island by boat. His arrival in Key West, and later in New York City, marks the beginning of the marvels and horrors he will encounter in el Norte and of his realization that his personal destiny can only be "fulfilled in blood." Beautifully written—with humor, intensity, and imaginative brilliance—The Marks of Birth is a powerful portrait of a people in exile.

Author Biography: Pablo Medina emigrated from Cuba to the United States when he was twelve. He teaches at The New School University in New York City.