Portland Public Library

Cuba libre!, Che, Fidel, and the improbable revolution that changed world history, Tony Perrottet

eng

Includes bibliographical references (pages 353-359) and index

collective biography

mapsillustrationsplates

index present

non fiction

Cuba libre!

bibliography

1054260710

Tony Perrottet

Che, Fidel, and the improbable revolution that changed world history

"Perrottet chronicles the events of the Cuban Revolution and the figures at the center of the guerrilla uprising: Che Guevara, Fidel Castro, and the scrappy band of rebel men and women who followed them. The general timeline of the Cuban Revolution of 1956-1958: It was led by two of the 20th century's most iconic figures, Fidel Castro and Che Guevara; it successfully overthrew the island nation's US-backed dictator; and it quickly went awry under Castro's rule. In this wildly entertaining and meticulously researched account, Tony Perrottet unravels the human drama behind history's most improbable revolution: a scruffy handful of self-taught revolutionaries--many of them kids just out of college, literature majors, art students and young lawyers, and including a number of women--defeated 40,000 professional soldiers to overthrow the dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista. Cuba Libre's deep dive into the revolution reveals fascinating details and is an entertaining look back at a liberation movement that captured the imagination of the world with its spectacular drama, foolhardy bravery, tragedy, and, sometimes, high comedy--and that set the stage for a buildup of Cold War tension that became a pivotal moment in history"--, Provided by publisher

Prologue: Fidelmania -- Part One: The Cuban "madness". DIY revolution -- The curse of San Juan Hill -- Fulgencio versus Fidel -- The misfire heard around the world -- Island of lost souls -- Fellow travelers -- Waiting for Fidel -- The cruise of the granma -- "Now we've won the war" -- Part Two: The amateur guerrillas. The kindness of strangers -- First blood -- Back from the dead -- Havana vice -- "The bitter days" -- The revolution will be televised -- Baptisms of fire -- Scenes from the "free zone" -- Revolution on $300 a day -- Love in the time of diarrhea -- Part Three: Revolutionary road. Fiestas in wartime -- "The fuck-up" -- Sierra Shangri-la -- Operation "end of Fidel" -- Rạúl goes rogue -- The comeback -- Women in uniform -- Hurricane season -- Have gun, will travel: the Gringo Guerrillas -- The lightning campaign -- Part Four: Honeymoon with Che. Compañeros versus mafiosi -- In (Cuba) like Flynn -- The caravan of victory -- Days of rum and roses -- Epilogue: Last kids on the bloc

adult