Alberto Manuel Francisco Yarini Ponce de León was born in La Habana, Cuba on February 5, 1882 to a wealthy family. His father Cirilo was a renowned dental surgeon, the founder of the Sociedad de Odontología, and a professor at the University of La Habana. His mother Juana Emilia was a piano virtuosa who played for Napoleon III at the Tuileries Palace.

Yarini's education was begun at the San Melitón school in La Habana, and later he was sent to finish his education in the United States. Yarini spoke fluent English as well as his native Spanish. He returned to La Habana when he was 19 years old.

Blessed with physical beauty and innate charm, he soon became the toast of the town. He mingled effortlessly with society's finest, counting as his friends the richest and most powerful people in the land. He navigated with equal aplomb the lowest depths of society, where he was not only well known, but feared and respected as the King of San Isidro, La Habana's infamous red light district. Yarini was Cuba's most famous pimp, a title he still holds to this day, more than a century after his death.

A multifaceted man, Yarini could be kind and generous, which won him the adoration of many, or he could be a cold blooded hood if anyone ever crossed him. Upon his return to Cuba after finishing his studies in the United States, he had a chance encounter in his father's dental clinic with a beautiful young man named José Basterrechea, known as Pepito. From the day they met, Yarini and Pepito became inseparable friends. Yarini supported Pepito economically, paying for the home Pepito shared with his mother, and covering all of Pepito's expenses. Pepito never worked. Pepito's mother despised Yarini, and blamed him for ruining her son, still, it was Yarini's money that paid her bills as well as Pepito's.

Yarini's charmed life as the King of San Isidro would soon take a sharp turn. There were many other houses of ill repute there, including one run by a Frenchman called Louis Letot, who imported his prostitutes directly from Paris. The French prostitutes were very much in demand, so Letot brought from Paris a young girl who went by the name of La Petite Berthe.

Yarini decided to lure La Petite Berthe away from Letot, and add her to his harem. This he did. Letot was not pleased, and worked out a plan to kill Yarini. Several days later, with Letot's men armed and hidden on rooftops, Letot accosted Yarini and Pepito on the street. Letot pulled out his gun and opened fire on Yarini, so did his men up on the roofs. Pepito shot Letot in the middle of the Frenchman's forehead, killing him on the spot. Letot died on the street. Yarini, badly wounded, was taken to a nearby hospital where he began to lose his battle for life. Before he died he asked for a piece of paper and a pen and wrote a note naming himself as Letot's killer, thus shifting all blame away from Pepito. After this last, supreme act of love for his lifelong companion, he drifted into immortality on November 22, 1910.

Over 10, 000 people joined the funeral procession on foot through the streets of La Habana to the Colón Cemetery, where Yarini was buried.

Pepito went to trial for Letot's murder, but with Yarini's handwritten note as evidence, he was declared innocent and cleared of all charges. But Pepito never recovered from Yarini's death. He lived out the rest of his life alone, breaking into sobs at the mere mention of Yarini's name. A portrait of Yarini hung prevalently in his home until the day he died.

Alberto Manuel Francisco Yarini Ponce de León was born in La Habana, Cuba on February 5, 1882 to a wealthy family. His father Cirilo was a renowned dental surgeon, the founder of the Sociedad de Odontología, and a professor at the University of La Habana. His mother Juana Emilia was a piano virtuosa who played for Napoleon III at the Tuileries Palace.

Yarini's education was begun at the San Melitón school in La Habana, and later he was sent to finish his education in the United States. Yarini spoke fluent English as well as his native Spanish. He returned to La Habana when he was 19 years old.

Blessed with physical beauty and innate charm, he soon became the toast of the town. He mingled effortlessly with society's finest, counting as his friends the richest and most powerful people in the land. He navigated with equal aplomb the lowest depths of society, where he was not only well known, but feared and respected as the King of San Isidro, La Habana's infamous red light district. Yarini was Cuba's most famous pimp, a title he still holds to this day, more than a century after his death.

A multifaceted man, Yarini could be kind and generous, which won him the adoration of many, or he could be a cold blooded hood if anyone ever crossed him. Upon his return to Cuba after finishing his studies in the United States, he had a chance encounter in his father's dental clinic with a beautiful young man named José Basterrechea, known as Pepito. From the day they met, Yarini and Pepito became inseparable friends. Yarini supported Pepito economically, paying for the home Pepito shared with his mother, and covering all of Pepito's expenses. Pepito never worked. Pepito's mother despised Yarini, and blamed him for ruining her son, still, it was Yarini's money that paid her bills as well as Pepito's.

Yarini's charmed life as the King of San Isidro would soon take a sharp turn. There were many other houses of ill repute there, including one run by a Frenchman called Louis Letot, who imported his prostitutes directly from Paris. The French prostitutes were very much in demand, so Letot brought from Paris a young girl who went by the name of La Petite Berthe.

Yarini decided to lure La Petite Berthe away from Letot, and add her to his harem. This he did. Letot was not pleased, and worked out a plan to kill Yarini. Several days later, with Letot's men armed and hidden on rooftops, Letot accosted Yarini and Pepito on the street. Letot pulled out his gun and opened fire on Yarini, so did his men up on the roofs. Pepito shot Letot in the middle of the Frenchman's forehead, killing him on the spot. Letot died on the street. Yarini, badly wounded, was taken to a nearby hospital where he began to lose his battle for life. Before he died he asked for a piece of paper and a pen and wrote a note naming himself as Letot's killer, thus shifting all blame away from Pepito. After this last, supreme act of love for his lifelong companion, he drifted into immortality on November 22, 1910.

Over 10, 000 people joined the funeral procession on foot through the streets of La Habana to the Colón Cemetery, where Yarini was buried.

Pepito went to trial for Letot's murder, but with Yarini's handwritten note as evidence, he was declared innocent and cleared of all charges. But Pepito never recovered from Yarini's death. He lived out the rest of his life alone, breaking into sobs at the mere mention of Yarini's name. A portrait of Yarini hung prevalently in his home until the day he died.