Golden Beak: The Life of Juan Francisco Manzano (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9798285891529)

Golden Beak
A Historical Novel Based on the Life of Juan Francisco Manzano

Born into slavery in colonial Cuba, Juan Francisco Manzano was never meant to read or write. But in secret, using scraps of discarded paper and fragments of forbidden verse, he taught himself. What began as an act of quiet rebellion became something extraordinary: a literary voice that survived against all odds.

In this powerful historical novel, D.A. Orozco reimagines Manzano's true story with cinematic depth, emotional clarity, and lyrical prose. From Havana's glittering salons to the brutal shadows of plantation life, Golden Beak captures the harrowing contrasts of a world built on silence-and the fierce humanity of one man who dared to speak.

Blending fact and fiction, this novel expands upon Manzano's real-life autobiography to explore the inner life of a poet enslaved by law but liberated by language. His words, forged in suffering, echo across centuries as a testament to resilience, artistry, and the irrepressible will to be free.

✦ Inspired by the only known autobiography of an enslaved person in Spanish America
✦ For fans of The Book of Negroes, Roots, and The Known World
✦ Part of the Rebirth Series - reviving overlooked voices through historical fiction