Cuban-born writer and journalist Eliseo Alberto, living in exile in Mexico, has died at the age of 59.

Alberto, nicknamed Lichi, died Sunday at a hospital in Mexico City after receiving a kidney transplant on July 18.

Cuban-Born Writer Eliseo Alberto Dies in Mexico

He was celebrated as one of the best contemporary Spanish-language poetry and prose writers. He also wrote television scripts and taught at film schools in Mexico and elsewhere.

Cuban-Born Writer Eliseo Alberto Dies in Mexico

Alberto said his books explored Christian themes such as regret, forgiveness and punishment.

Cuban-Born Writer Eliseo Alberto Dies in Mexico

In 1998, he received the Premio Alfaguara de Novela, an international Spanish-language literary award, for his novel "Caracol Beach."

Alberto was born in 1951 in Arroyo Naranjo, Cuba and was the son of Cuban poet and intellectual Eliseo Diego.

In his autobiographical work "Informe contra mi mismo" he described how the Cuban security authorities asked him to report on his father's activities.