Fidel Castro is one of the most interesting and controversial personalities of our time - he has become a myth and an icon. He was the first Cuban Caudillo - the man who freed his country from dependence on the USA and who lead his people to rediscover their national identity and pride. Castro has outlived generations of American presidents and Soviet leaders. He has survived countless assassination attempts by the CIA, the Mafia, and Cubans living in exile. He has become one of the greatest politicians of the 20th Century. His biography, and the history of his country exemplify the tensions between East and West, North and South, rich and poor.
In this up-to-date reconstruction of Castro’s life story, Volker Skierka provides an account of the economic, social and political history of Cuba since Castro's childhood. It draws on a number of little known sources, including material from archives of the former German Democratic Republic (GDR) which were until recently inaccessible. The author succeeds in creating an exciting, painstakingly researched account of the contradictions in the life and work of Castro. Skierka does not indulge in revolutionary romanticism, avoiding the usual cliches about Cuba’s devotion to the Soviet Union. As Castro’s life draws to a close, the question as to what will become of Cuba is more important that ever. Will Castro open Cuba to economic reform and democratization, or stick to his old slogan 'socialism or death”?
Reviewers' Quotes:
"A comprehensive and highly readable biography written in a remarkably even-handed tone. " The Guardian
"If you are interested in knowing more about Cuba's development since the revolution, then this book is a must. If you want to know more detail about how the US has harassed and dogged this tiny Caribbean state from the outset, this book gives it to you ... Skierka's research is extensive and he is scrupulous with the facts. This book is a fascinatingly good read and a treasure trove of information." Morning Star
"Volker Skierka's study of Castro stands out for its admirable clarity and accessibility. Synthesising a wealth of literature, and casting a cool eye on the official pieties of both Havana and Washington, Skierka has drawn a critical but far from unsympathetic portrait of this extraordinary figure of the Cold War world whose personal tenacity ensured that Cuban Communism survived with him into the new millennium." James Dunkerley
"Volker Skierka has written the book that those wanting to understand the present-day politics of Cuba and its ruler have been awaiting for a long time. He has done so with a freshness, simplicity and elegance that makes it a pleasure to read...accessible and fascinating to the casual reader and the specialist alike." Hugh O'Shaughnessy, BBC History Magazine
Contents:
List of plates
A Note of Thanks
Acknowledgements
Preface to the English Edition
1. The Heroic Myth
2. The Young Fidel
Among Jesuits
Among gangsters
3. The Young Revolutionary
Storm and stress: Moncada
'Che”, the Argentinean
Stormy crossing on the Granma
A guerillero in the Sierra Maestra
321 against 10,000
4. The Young Victor
Communists and 'barbudos”
1,500 revolutionary laws
5. Old Enemies, New Friends
The great powers at the gates
The CIA, the Mafia and the Bay of Pigs
Fidelismo
'Mongoose” and 'Anadyr”
Thirteen days on the brink of a third world war
Three gamblers
6. The Long March with Che
Moscow, Beijing, and Havana
The new man
The demise of Che
7. Bad Times, Good Times
War and peace with Moscow
Ten million tons
Into the Third World
The revolution devours its children
8. Alone Against All
Exodus to Florida
Rectificacion and perestroika
The Soviet imperium collapses
The brother’s power
War economy in peacetime
9. The Eternal Revolutionary
Class Struggle on a dollar basis
Cuba and the global policeman
Castro, God and the Pope
Freedom or 'socialismo tropical”
10. Don Quixote and History
Notes
Bibliography
Index
In this up-to-date reconstruction of Castro’s life story, Volker Skierka provides an account of the economic, social and political history of Cuba since Castro's childhood. It draws on a number of little known sources, including material from archives of the former German Democratic Republic (GDR) which were until recently inaccessible. The author succeeds in creating an exciting, painstakingly researched account of the contradictions in the life and work of Castro. Skierka does not indulge in revolutionary romanticism, avoiding the usual cliches about Cuba’s devotion to the Soviet Union. As Castro’s life draws to a close, the question as to what will become of Cuba is more important that ever. Will Castro open Cuba to economic reform and democratization, or stick to his old slogan 'socialism or death”?
Reviewers' Quotes:
"A comprehensive and highly readable biography written in a remarkably even-handed tone. " The Guardian
"If you are interested in knowing more about Cuba's development since the revolution, then this book is a must. If you want to know more detail about how the US has harassed and dogged this tiny Caribbean state from the outset, this book gives it to you ... Skierka's research is extensive and he is scrupulous with the facts. This book is a fascinatingly good read and a treasure trove of information." Morning Star
"Volker Skierka's study of Castro stands out for its admirable clarity and accessibility. Synthesising a wealth of literature, and casting a cool eye on the official pieties of both Havana and Washington, Skierka has drawn a critical but far from unsympathetic portrait of this extraordinary figure of the Cold War world whose personal tenacity ensured that Cuban Communism survived with him into the new millennium." James Dunkerley
"Volker Skierka has written the book that those wanting to understand the present-day politics of Cuba and its ruler have been awaiting for a long time. He has done so with a freshness, simplicity and elegance that makes it a pleasure to read...accessible and fascinating to the casual reader and the specialist alike." Hugh O'Shaughnessy, BBC History Magazine
Contents:
List of plates
A Note of Thanks
Acknowledgements
Preface to the English Edition
1. The Heroic Myth
2. The Young Fidel
Among Jesuits
Among gangsters
3. The Young Revolutionary
Storm and stress: Moncada
'Che”, the Argentinean
Stormy crossing on the Granma
A guerillero in the Sierra Maestra
321 against 10,000
4. The Young Victor
Communists and 'barbudos”
1,500 revolutionary laws
5. Old Enemies, New Friends
The great powers at the gates
The CIA, the Mafia and the Bay of Pigs
Fidelismo
'Mongoose” and 'Anadyr”
Thirteen days on the brink of a third world war
Three gamblers
6. The Long March with Che
Moscow, Beijing, and Havana
The new man
The demise of Che
7. Bad Times, Good Times
War and peace with Moscow
Ten million tons
Into the Third World
The revolution devours its children
8. Alone Against All
Exodus to Florida
Rectificacion and perestroika
The Soviet imperium collapses
The brother’s power
War economy in peacetime
9. The Eternal Revolutionary
Class Struggle on a dollar basis
Cuba and the global policeman
Castro, God and the Pope
Freedom or 'socialismo tropical”
10. Don Quixote and History
Notes
Bibliography
Index