Author Manuel Márquez-Sterling writes about Fidel Castro and his revolution from direct personal experience, as a historian with broad and deep knowledge of 50s Cuba. The author knew and had contact with many of the historical figures in the book's pages. His penetrating analysis of the public and behind-the-scenes events clears the fog and shatters myths to reveal the real story of the Cuban Revolution. The book explains how Castro came to power through the convergence of rabid partisanship, radical student politics, media bias, and venal politicians who placed self interest ahead of preserving democracy. Facing a constitutional crisis, these parties espoused "the end justifies the means," embracing political gangsterism and eschewing negotiations with political opponents- resulting in a power vacuum Castro exploited to seize power. Masterful propaganda cast Castro as pro-democracy hero, avoiding scrutiny of his plans for a totalitarian state under his control.
Sweig shatters the mythology surrounding the Cuban Revolution in a compelling revisionist history that reconsiders the revolutionary roles of Castro and Guevara and restores to a central position the leadership of the Llano. Granted unprecedented access to the classified records of Castro's 26th of July Movement's underground operatives--the only scholar inside or outside of Cuba allowed access to the complete collection in the Cuban Council of State's Office of Historic Affairs--she details the debates between Castro's mountain-based guerrilla movement and the urban revolutionaries in Havana, Santiago, and other cities.
In "The Rise and Fall of Fidel Castro," we embark on a journey through the extraordinary life and complex legacy of one of the most iconic and controversial figures of the 20th century. Fidel Castro's impact on Cuba, the Americas, and global politics is the subject of intense debate, and this book delves into the multifaceted dimensions of his leadership, from revolutionary heroism to political controversy. From his early years as a rebellious law student to his historic rise to power as the leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro's story is one of audacity, resilience, and unwavering commitment to socialist ideals. The book explores the roots of his revolutionary fervor, the triumphs and tribulations of the Cuban Revolution, and the challenges faced by Cuba in the wake of his leadership. As we journey through the pages of this book, we delve into the social achievements of the Cuban Revolution, including groundbreaking advances in healthcare and education that earned global recognition. We also confront the controversies surrounding political repression, human rights violations, and limitations on freedom of speech that have marked Castro's legacy. "The Rise and Fall of Fidel Castro" goes beyond Cuba's borders to examine Castro's role in international affairs, from supporting leftist movements and governments in Latin America to his involvement in conflicts in Africa and the Middle East. We witness how Cuba's internationalism and solidarity with other nations shaped its foreign policy and global influence. The book delves into the economic challenges faced by Cuba, particularly during the "Special Period" following the collapse of the Soviet Union. It explores the dual economy, economic reforms, and the delicate balance between socialism and market forces that continue to shape Cuba's economic trajectory. "The Rise and Fall of Fidel Castro" also examines the normalization of relations between Cuba and the United States, a historic development with profound implications for both countries. The book navigates the complex relationship between Cuba and the Cuban exile community in the United States, highlighting the divisions and debates surrounding Castro's legacy. As we reach the epilogue, we witness how Fidel Castro's legacy endures in the 21st century, shaping Cuba's identity, politics, and aspirations. The book concludes with reflections on the enduring influence of a leader whose impact transcends time and place. This comprehensive and thought-provoking exploration of Fidel Castro's life and legacy offers readers a nuanced understanding of a figure who inspired devotion and criticism in equal measure. "The Rise and Fall of Fidel Castro" is a must-read for anyone interested in the history, politics, and enduring legacy of the Cuban Revolution.
Argues that the parameters that governed the relationship between the Cuban government and increasingly radicalized African-American activists in the 1960s were largely determined by the ideological conflicts between the revolutionary views of Che Guevara and the more conservative pro-Moscow views held by many in Castro's Popular Socialist Party. Issues explored include Cuba's support for international Pan-African movements, the role of Cuba in popularizing the aspirations of radical African-Americans to the world, and the eventual capitulation to ideologies of national security. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR
Reported from inside Cuba by Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Andres Oppenheimer, Castro's Final Hour chronicles the dramatic events that have crippled the more-than-three-decades-old Marxist regime of Fidel Castro. From the execution of the country's most celebrated Army general in 1989 to the devastating effects of the loss of all Soviet aid, the picture Oppenheimer paints is extraordinarily detailed and engrossing, revealing a country on the brink of disaster. He uncovers Castro's never-before reported efforts to radicalize Noriega's regime in Panama, the failure of his "Zero Option" plan to restore economic stability without outside aid, and tells how, in a last ditch attempt to save the country from its dire slide, Castro's top aides pushed a plan to strip him of some of his powers. Including exclusive interviews with Soviet officials, Latin American leaders - including Daniel Ortega and Manuel Noriega - as well as the top echelon of current Cuban leadership and Fidel's dissident daughter, Alina, Castro's Final Hour is a compelling and intimate portrait of the Cuban leader, and an authoritative evaluation of what the future may hold for his country.
This intimate, revisionist portrait of Fidel Castro, showing how an unlikely young Cuban led his country in revolution and transfixed the world, is “sure to become the standard on Castro’s early life” (Publishers Weekly). Until now, biographers have treated Castro’s life like prosecutors, scouring his past for evidence to convict a person they don’t like or don’t understand. Young Castro challenges us to put aside the caricature of a bearded, cigar-munching, anti-American hothead to discover how Castro became the dictator who acted as a thorn in the side of US presidents for nearly half a century. In this “gripping and edifying narrative…Hansen brings imposing research and notable erudition” (Booklist) to Castro’s early life, showing Castro getting his toughness from a father who survived Spain’s class system and colonial wars to become one of the most successful independent plantation owners in Cuba. We see a boy running around that plantation more comfortable playing with the children of his father’s laborers than his own classmates at elite boarding schools in Santiago de Cuba and Havana. We discover a young man who writes flowery love letters from prison and contemplates the meaning of life, a gregarious soul attentive to the needs of strangers but often indifferent to the needs of his own family. These pages show a liberal democrat who admires FDR’s New Deal policies and is skeptical of communism, but is also hostile to American imperialism. They show an audacious militant who stages a reckless attack on a military barracks but is canny about building an army of resisters. In short, Young Castro reveals a complex man. The first American historian in a generation to gain access to the Castro archives in Havana, Jonathan Hansen was able to secure cooperation from Castro’s family and closest confidants. He gained access to hundreds of never-before-seen letters and interviewed people he was the first to ask for their impressions of the man. The result is a nuanced and penetrating portrait of a man at once brilliant, arrogant, bold, vulnerable, and all too human: a man who, having grown up on an island that felt like a colonial cage, was compelled to lead his country to independence.
"Fascinating...A richly detailed portrait." -Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times Known in his day as the King of Sugar, Julio Lobo was the wealthiest man in prerevolutionary Cuba. He had a life fit for Hollywood: he barely survived both a gangland shooting and a firing squad, and courted movie stars such as Joan Fontaine and Bette Davis. Only when he declined Che Guevara's personal offer to become Minister of Sugar in the Communist regime did Lobo's decades-long reign in Cuba come to a dramatic end. Drawing on stories from the author's own family history and other tales of the island's lost haute bourgeoisie, The Sugar King of Havana is a rare portrait of Cuba's glittering past—and a hopeful window into its future.
This is a compelling behind-the-scenes account of the extraordinary Castro brothers and the dynastic succession of Fidel's younger brother Raul. Brian Latell, the CIA analyst who has followed Castro since the sixties, gives an unprecedented view into Fidel and Raul's remarkable relationship, revealing how they have collaborated in policy making, divided responsibilities, and resolved disagreements for more than forty years--a challenge to the notion that Fidel always acts alone. Latell has had more access to the brothers than anyone else in this country, and his briefs to the CIA informed much of U.S. policy. Based on his knowledge of Raul Castro, Latell makes projections on what kind of leader Raul will be and how the shift in power might influence U.S.-Cuban relations.
