A Short History of Revolutionary Cuba: Revolution, Power, Authority and the State from 1959 to the Present Day - Hardcover

by Antoni Kapcia (Author)

Few island nations have stirred the soul like Cuba. From Hemingway's intoxicating Havana to Ry Cooder's Buena Vista Social Club, outsiders have persistently been fascinated by Cuba for its music (jazz to rumba), its rich literature, its art and dance (danz n to mambo) and perhaps above all for its bold experiment of a socialist revolution in action. Antoni Kapcia shows how the thaw in relations between Cuba and the USA now makes a fresh appraisal of the country and its modern history essential. He authoritatively explores the 'essence' of the Cuban revolution, revealing it to be a maverick phenomenon tied not so much to socialism or Communism for their own sakes but instead to an idealistic vision of postcolonial nationalism. Reassessing the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962, the author examines the central personalities: not just the famous trio of Che Guevara, Fidel and Ra l Castro in shaping the ideas of the revolution but, still further back, the visionary ideology of Jos Mart . Kapcia's book reflects on the future of the revolution as a l nd his government began to cede power to a new generation.

Author Biography

Antoni Kapcia is Professor of Latin American History at the University of Nottingham. His previous books on modern Cuba include Leadership in the Cuban Revolution: The Unseen Story (2014); Cuba in Revolution: A History since the Fifties (2008); Havana: The Making of Cuban Culture (2005); and Cuba: Island of Dreams (2000).