Cuban Writer Enrique Cirilo Accuses US Writer of Plagiarism

In a recent interview, Cuban writer Enrique Cirules condemned US journalist Thomas Joseph English for plagiarizing two of his best-sellers and spoke about the illegal manipulation of his books in the United States.

Cirules is a prolific author that has written novels, testimonies, short stories and essays. Among his most famous works are the 26 de Julio National Literary Award winners Conversación con el último norteamericano (Conversation with the Last American) (1973) and Bluefield (1986).

Other works by Cirules are the Casa de las Americas National Literary Contest finalist La otra Guerra, 1973 (The Other War), Los guardafronteras, 1983 (The Coastguards) and the novels La saga de la Gloria City, 1983 (The Gloria City Saga); and Extraña lluvia en la tormenta, 1988 (Strange Rain in the Storm).

He also wrote Hemingway en la cayería de Romano—winner of the Casa de las Americas National Literary Contest Mention in 1999— and recent works La vida secreta de Meyer Lansky en La Habana (The Secret Life of Meyer Lansky in Havana) in 2004 and the novel Santa Clara Santa in 2007.

His book El imperio de La Habana (The Empire of Havana), which won both the Casa de las Americas National Literary Contest Award and the National Book Critics Award in 1993 and 1994 respectively, was the subject of literary plagiarism in the United States.

—Thomas Joseph English, a journalist who lives in New York, has denied the accusation of plagiarism against him that you made during an interview with the Cuban newspaper Juventud Rebelde on February 12.

What is your opinion on his reply?

—I have no intention of talking to Mr. T.J. English. Instead, I’m offering figures, data and clear evidence of his plagiarism. In his book Havane Nocturne (2008) T.J. English did not quote my work; instead, 72 times he mentioned the name of Cirules in an attempt to justify plagiarizing more than 260 pages from the novels El Imperio de La Habana and La vida secreta de Meyer Lansky.

Moreover, he alleges to have interviewed Armando Jaime Casielles on January 24 and 26, 2007. These interviews never took place because by that time Casielles was confined to a hospital, suffering from a serious cancer that would kill him 17 days later on February 12, 2007.

Are you aware that English intends using Casielles’ memoirs at his discretion?

— His excessive ambition is preventing him from thinking straight.

I’ve been the copyright owner of the books in question (El Imperio de La Habana and La vida secreta de Meyer Lansky) in Cuba and other countries long before T.J English plagiarized them in 2008. In addition, I have documents signed by Jaime Casielles that prove my words.

They are planning to shoot a big budget movie entitled <strong>Havanestrong> <strong>Nocturnestrong>. International news wires report that three prominent Hollywood producers are involved in the project based on US writer T.J. English’s bestseller <strong>Havanestrong> <strong>Nocturnestrong>, the story of the Cuban mafia in the 1950s. The producers have not yet decided if they will shoot the movie in Cuba.

—I know. I have read in the entertainment magazine The Hollywood Reporter that Hollywood producers Eric Eisner, Gil Adler and Shane McCarthy are working on the Havane Nocturne movie project, with the sponsorship of Paramount Pictures and other major film companies like the Eisner Company and Gilbert Adler Production.

Allow me to repeat Mr. English’s public statements: Mr. Cirules deserves the credit for his pioneering depiction of the 1950s US mafia in Cuba, but he does not own the story; he does not own the memoirs of Jaime Casielles. Some might turn to his version of the story; but others will turn to mine as well. What do you think about this statement?

—In fact, I do own the memoirs of Armando Casielles! But it is more complicated than it seems, because behind Mr. English’s arrogance and plagiarism is a well-plotted scheme to cover up the US mafia’s crimes back in the 1950s.

I have researched this topic thoroughly, and I will not let them use my book to manipulate anybody. For 50 years, American movies have had people mistakenly believe in the portrayal of mafia as the “classic Sicilian family,” when the reality couldn’t be more different than that.

Once a genre that captivated millions worldwide, mafia fiction films are today trite; and I think people everywhere are starting to wonder about the real history of the US organized crime back in the 1950s.

Indeed a fascinating topic...

—That’s true. The La vida secreta de Meyer Lansky en La Habana is an excellent story that could be taken to the big screen; but I will, under no circumstances, let anybody plagiarize, steal or manipulate the stories in my books!

Has your accusation of plagiarism had any effect outside of Cuba?

— It has had a great impact for sure, and it will continue to do so within the next weeks. Not only intellectuals, but readers in every corner of the world have joined me in condemning this literary dishonesty by Mr. English. There is even a group of lawyers from France, Holland and Spain who have offered to take the case to the courts; but I have not made that decision yet.

What will you do from now on?

—I will continue to denounce publicly the plagiarism of my books and see how things turn out.

Is there anything else you want to say?

—Yes, I have lots of interesting information which I will make public if need be.