La 'Autobiografia de un esclavo' de Juan Francisco Manzano es un texto de referencia en la cultura y la politica cubana del siglo XIX. Manzano tambien publico poesia, aun mientras seguia siendo esclavo. En Matanzas circulaban de manera mas o menos anonima sus decimas. De el dijo el gran Jose Lezama Lima: "Manzano es un sorprendente caso de intuicion para lo poetico, con los escasos conocimientos que pudo obtener, nos ha dejado una pequena obra llena de musicalidad y de simpatia poetica". Su poesia es a la vez ubicada dentro del romanticismo aunque con un sabor criollo peculiar. 'Autobiography of a Slave' by Juan Francisco Manzano is a text of reference in 19th century Cuban culture and politics. Manzano also published poetry, even while remaining a slave. In Matanzas his works were circulated more or less anonymously. Of the author, the great Jose Lezama Lima said: "Manzano is a surprising case of poetic intuition; with the little knowledge he was able to obtain, he has left us a small work, filled with musicality and poetic resonance". His poetry is at once situated among the romantics, while offering a peculiar creole flavor.