Tolkien, Mark Twain, Ernest Hemingway, Herman Melville… Some of the most prominent authors in world literature were passionate about tobacco. Thanks to them, the pleasure of smoking ceased to be just a pastime and became a cultural milestone, both for writers and readers alike.
On the awarding of the 2025 Nobel Prize in Literature to Hungarian-born writer László Krasznahorkai, we are honoring that eternal connection between literature and tobacco through five novels in which the ritual of smoking played a crucial role, either within the story or as an essential partner to the author.
The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner
A tireless smoker, William Faulkner is one of the great names of literary modernism. His most famous work, The Sound and the Fury, narrates the decline of a family in the southern United States through four voices with different points of view.
It is ideal reading for those who enjoy experimental narratives, multiple perspectives, and intense stories. Our recommendation: accompany it with a Montecristo Short, which not only contributes intensity but also accentuates the literary character of the experience.
The Plague by Albert Camus
Legend has it that Albert Camus was so fond of cigarettes that he named his cat “Cigarette.” Whether or not the anecdote is true, what is indisputable is that Camus was a heavy smoker, but above all, a magnificent writer.
One of his most famous works is The Plague, a deeply philosophical novel about an epidemic that forces a society to confront absurdity and death. It is the perfect choice for lovers of existential and ethical reflections, especially when accompanied by a Partagás Club, a cigarrillo with character and strength.
The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
John Steinbeck is famous both for his portrayal of the American working class during the Great Depression and for being a great tobacco lover. His most renowned novel, The Grapes of Wrath, won him the Pulitzer Prize in 1940.
The work narrates the odyssey of the Joad family in search of a better life. It is a powerful social critique and a moving human portrait, ideal if you like social and realistic stories. And to reflect after reading it, there is nothing better than lighting up a Romeo y Julieta Puritos.
The Tin Drum by Günter Grass
In addition to his well-known passion for pipe smoking, Grass is famous for his criticism of post-war German society. One of his best-known works is The Tin Drum, a magnificent satire narrated by a boy who decides not to grow up.
This book combines dark humor, magical realism, and historical memory, making it essential reading for those who enjoy political undertones and unusual narrators. As a reading companion, we recommend Punch Mini, with its humorous references and distinctive character, much like Günter Grass’s prose.
Desolation by Gabriela Mistral
There is no evidence that Gabriela Mistral was a smoker, but there is no doubt that she was an incomparable poet. A diplomat and educator, her poetry explores Latin American identity and culture.
Among her works, Desolation stands out, a fundamental collection of poems in which we find verses of love, pain, motherhood, and faith. Her intimate and musical narrative is perfect for the most sentimental and empathetic readers. To harmonize with this delicate poetry, we suggest a mild Cuban mini cigars with essence, such as the Guantanamera Cristales.
Characters, writers, readers… Literature is also written with smoke, both in stories and outside of them. Thus, hobbies become culture, and culture becomes tradition. That’s why, for readers who are fans of the art of smoking, there’s no better experience than holding a book in one hand and a Cuban mini cigars in the other.
