This essay considers the development of Cuban American literature, which can be traced to the first part of the nineteenth century, when Cubans fled the Spanish colony to live and write in the United States.  The early works were written in Spanish about island concerns.  This critic argues that a US perspective is also discernable in these works.  In its most recent manifestation, Cuban American literature refers to works produced by exiles fleeing Castro’s rise to power, living mainly in Miami but also in other US cities.  Written in Spanish and English, these works take issues with events unfolding at home and in the adopted country. They combine two perspective, two geographic spaces, two cultures, and two languages. In the United States, women, gay, and lesbian writers explore uncomfortable topics known to their parents’ culture. Cuban American literature is rich and varied, and speaks to the changing perspectives of the Cuban American experience.