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• 07 / 08 / 2008

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In spite of its brief existence, The Golden Age is considered even today a revolutionary project in terms of children´s literature.

Salvador Arias García, an expert with the Literature Office at the José Martí Studies Center (CEM), commented that until the 19th century, obedience, conformism, strict religious practices and the defense of the prevailing bourgeois social and political regimens were constants in the works of writers and editors of children´s literature, as expressions of the ‘good manners´ to be instilled in young readers.

“Most publications at the time did not satisfy children´s interests or their curiosity,” said Arias García, who is the author of several research projects and articles on Martí´s life and work.

Since it was intended for young children, The Golden Age was considered by some as circumstantial and unimportant. However, in it Martí spread very much radical ideas than he did in several of his other publications.

“In this supplement,” said Arias García, “the writer had the double purpose of captivating his readers and winning their respect; while at the same time educating them as human beings and making them feel they belong in The Americas.”

In a letter to his Mexican friend Manuel Mercado, the Cuban National Hero commented on the supplement: “It should help to achieve what I want to help achieve, to fill our lands with clever, innovative men and women, raised to be happy on the land they live in (…).”

Martí´s writings included in The Golden Age dealt with regional and world history, fables and poems with messages to teach the reader values, as well as arts and literature --always combining education and entertainment.

Critics and writers of the time praised Martí´s astuteness since he always respected his readers´ intelligence, which is fully demonstrated by the subjects he chose as well as in the way he wrote.

José Martí himself said the following, as quoted by scholar Fina García Marruz: “(…) children know much more than they seem and we should never resort to condescending manners that upset them so much.”

In July 1889, the first issue of the magazine was published in New York . The last issue was published in October. José Martí did all the work by himself. He did all the writing, he selected all the illustrations and also supervised the printing and distribution of the very few copies that some good friends would later circulate throughout the continent.

“At present,” said the researcher with the CEM, “The Golden Age is far better known and read than when it was first published in 1889.”

The November 1889 issue could not be printed out and highly influential politicians pressured Aarón Da Costa Gómez –the businessman who financed the magazine— into including religious messages urging children to be God-fearing.

Martí refused, determined to preserve the ethical values promoted by his project. In a letter to Mercado he wrote: “This is the first time, despite the sad moments I´ve lived through, that I decide to abandon an undertaking I had very much devoted to.”

For him, it was a revitalizing experience during a period of great personal suffering after the breakup of his marriage and the subsequent separation from his son. Martí had a new source of inspiration – children, whom he considered to be the hope of world.

(Cubarte)