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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 (danzón 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
Raúl Castro in shaping the ideas of the revolution but, still
further back, the visionary ideology of José Martí. Kapcia’s
book reflects on the future of the revolution as Raúl and his
government begin to cede power to a new generation.
Available in paperback for the first time, this book brings an
original and innovative approach to a much-misunderstood aspect of
the Cuban Revolution: the place of literature and the creation of a
literary culture. Based on over 100 interviews with a wide range of
actors involved in the structures and processes that produce,
regulate, promote and consume literature on the island, the book
breaks new ground by going beyond the conventional approach (the
study of individual authors and texts) and by going beyond the
canon of texts known outside Cuba. It thus presents a historical
analysis of the evolution of literary culture from 1959 to the
present, as well as a series of more detailed case studies (on
writing workshops, the Havana Book Festival and the publishing
infrastructure) which reveal how this culture is created in
contemporary Cuba. It thus contributes a new and complex vision of
revolutionary Cuban culture which is as detailed as it is
comprehensive. -- .
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
(danzon 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 Raul Castro in shaping the
ideas of the revolution but, still further back, the visionary
ideology of Jose Marti. Kapcia's book reflects on the future of the
revolution as Raul and his government begin to cede power to a new
generation.
Fat cigars, big cars, dirty money, vibrant music, intellectual
ferment. Havana, since its creation in 1535, has long offered a
unique, bewildering mix of the backward and the hip, the seedy and
the sophisticated. In many respects, it shares the characteristics
of other colonial or post-colonial cities of the Caribbean and
Latin America. But at the same time, Havana created its own niche
both as an international city and a dynamic national capital.
Despite Cuba's fluctuating fortunes, Havana has always managed to
thrive and develop its own unique character as an urban, social,
economic, cultural and political site. Havana offers a sweeping
account of the city and its cultural development, focusing
especially on the last two centuries and on the role played by the
city's cultural communities in the search for national identity.
The author introduces us to a marginal city with roots in the
sixteenth century, taking us through the periods when it was a
sugar boomtown, pulled between empires, a decadent metropolis, a
site of both cultural revolution and relative stagnation during the
development of the Revolution to its revival in the 1990s. He looks
at the often creative tensions between external influences
(especially Spain, France and the United States) and indigenous
cultural pressures. Areas covered include architecture, literature,
music, dance, cinema and the press. Cosmopolitan playground and
nationalist vanguard, Havana has developed its own style while at
the same time both reflecting and directing the complicated
politics of the whole of Cuba. This book offers a concise
introduction to one of the most intriguing cities of the
twenty-first century.
Fat cigars, big cars, dirty money, vibrant music, intellectual
ferment, international tourism Havana, since its creation in 1535,
has long offered a unique, bewildering mix of the backward and the
hip, the seedy and the sophisticated. In many respects, it has
seemed to share many of the characteristics of other colonial or
post-colonial cities of the Caribbean and Latin America. But at the
same time, Havana created its own niche both as an international
city and a dynamic national capital on the one hand, one that both
embraced and stood in opposition to its great neighbour of the
North, and, on the other hand, one that simultaneously led the
Cuban national search for identity and acted as a port of entry for
external influences. Yet, despite Cubas fluctuating fortunes,
Havana has always managed to thrive and develop its own unique
character as an urban, social, economic, cultural and political
site. Havana offers a sweeping account of the city and its cultural
development, focusing especially on the last two centuries and on
the role played by the city's cultural communities in the search
for national identity. century, taking us through the periods when
it was a sugar boomtown, pulled between empires, a decadent
metropolis, a site of both cultural revolution and relative
stagnation during the development of the Revolution to its revival
in the 1990s. He looks at the often creative tensions between
external influences (especially Spain, France and the United
States) and indigenous cultural pressures. Areas covered include
architecture, literature, music, dance, cinema and the press.
Cosmopolitan playground and nationalist vanguard, Havana has
developed its own original style while at the same time both
reflecting and directing the complicated politics of the whole of
Cuba. This book offers a concise introduction to one of the most
intriguing cities of the twenty-first century.
As spiritual home of Che Guevara and arch-enemy of the United
States for more than forty years, Cuba exerts a powerful hold over
people's imaginations. The Revolution and its leader, Fidel Castro,
have survived invasion, repeated external and internal crisis, and
most astonishingly, economic collapse and political isolation. What
is at the root of the continuity and success of the 'Revolution'
and in what sense can it be termed a 'revolution'? This book is the
first in-depth study of Cuba to examine its history and
revolutionary transformation through the evolution of ideology and
myth. Music, political campaigns, street and media propaganda,
literature, cinema, and drama have served to establish a cubanista
tradition, supported by powerful myths such as Che Guevara and Jose
Marti, the New Man, youth, and an Afro-Cuban identity. Challenging
preconceptions and conventional wisdoms about Cuba and its
leadership, this book presents a remarkable portrait of the
distinctive history of the island's culture. The interplay of
history, revolutionary action, and ideology through myth and
collective experience make this book essential reading for Cuban
scholars, Latin American and US historians, political analysts and
those generally interested in the history and future of Cuban
political culture.
As spiritual home of Che Guevara and arch-enemy of the United
States for more than forty years, Cuba exerts a powerful hold over
people's imaginations. The Revolution and its leader, Fidel Castro,
have survived invasion, repeated external and internal crisis, and
most astonishingly, economic collapse and political isolation. What
is at the root of the continuity and success of the 'Revolution'
and in what sense can it be termed a 'revolution'? This book is the
first in-depth study of Cuba to examine its history and
revolutionary transformation through the evolution of ideology and
myth. Music, political campaigns, street and media propaganda,
literature, cinema, and drama have served to establish a cubanista
tradition, supported by powerful myths such as Che Guevara and Jose
Marti, the New Man, youth, and an Afro-Cuban identity. Challenging
preconceptions and conventional wisdoms about Cuba and its
leadership, this book presents a remarkable portrait of the
distinctive history of the island's culture. The interplay of
history, revolutionary action, and ideology through myth and
collective experience make this book essential reading for Cuban
scholars, Latin American and US historians, political analysts and
those generally interested in the history and future of Cuban
political culture.
This work is a completely new Historical Dictionary for Cuba (the
first since 1988). It gives a comprehensive and detailed coverage
and analysis of all of the key elements, factors, biographies,
narratives, and treaties in Cuban history from the 1400s to the
present day, with an emphasis on the decades after 1959. Historical
Dictionary of Cuba, Third Edition contains a chronology, an
introduction, and an extensive bibliography. The dictionary section
has more than 1.000 cross-referenced entries on important
personalities as well as aspects of the country's politics,
economy, foreign relations, religion, and culture. This book is an
excellent resource for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to
know more about Cuba.
The 1970s have largely been overlooked in scholarly studies of the
Cuban Revolution, or, at the very least, dismissed simply as a
period of "Sovietization" characterized by widespread
bureaucratization, institutionalization, and adherence to Soviet
orthodoxy. Consequently, scant research exists that examines the
major changes that took place across the decade and their role in
determining the course of the Revolution. This book provides, for
the first time, a comprehensive assessment of the 1970s which
challenges prevailing interpretations. Drawing from
multidisciplinary perspectives and exploring a range of
areas-including politics, international relations, culture,
education, and healthcare-its contributing authors demonstrate that
the decade was a time of intense transformation which proved
pivotal to the development of the Revolution. Indeed, many of the
ideas, approaches, policies, and legislation developed and tested
during the 1970s maintain a very visible legacy in contemporary
Cuba. In highlighting the complexity of the 1970s, this volume
ultimately aims to contribute to a greater understanding of the
Cuban Revolution and how it chooses to face the challenges of the
twenty-first century.
The 1970s have largely been overlooked in scholarly studies of the
Cuban Revolution, or, at the very least, dismissed simply as a
period of "Sovietization" characterized by widespread
bureaucratization, institutionalization, and adherence to Soviet
orthodoxy. Consequently, scant research exists that examines the
major changes that took place across the decade and their role in
determining the course of the Revolution. This book provides, for
the first time, a comprehensive assessment of the 1970s which
challenges prevailing interpretations. Drawing from
multidisciplinary perspectives and exploring a range of
areas-including politics, international relations, culture,
education, and healthcare-its contributing authors demonstrate that
the decade was a time of intense transformation which proved
pivotal to the development of the Revolution. Indeed, many of the
ideas, approaches, policies, and legislation developed and tested
during the 1970s maintain a very visible legacy in contemporary
Cuba. In highlighting the complexity of the 1970s, this volume
ultimately aims to contribute to a greater understanding of the
Cuban Revolution and how it chooses to face the challenges of the
twenty-first century.
Much of the conventional literature on, and most media readings of,
the Cuban Revolution have tended to be mesmerised by the
personality and role of Fidel Castro, an interpretation which has
often prevented a deeper political understanding of the
Revolution's underlying structures, bases of popular loyalty and
ethos of participation. In this groundbreaking work, Anthony Kapcia
offers a much-needed corrective to 'Fidel-centric' histories of the
Cuban revolution, focussing instead on a wider cast of characters
unknown to casual observers of the post-1959 process. Besides the
more obvious (albeit often misunderstood) contributions from Che
Guevara and Raul Castro, each decade since has seen several key
players involved in the processes of decision-making, often making
a significant difference to the outcome of debates, decisions and
definitions. As well as analysing their influence, Kapcia
interprets their various roles within a wider process of
nation-building, demonstrating that Cuba has undergone an unusual,
if not unique, process of revolutionary corporatism. Essential
reading for anyone interested in Cuba's history and its possible
future direction.
Much of the conventional literature on, and most media readings of,
the Cuban Revolution have tended to be mesmerised by the
personality and role of Fidel Castro, an interpretation which has
often prevented a deeper political understanding of the
Revolution's underlying structures, bases of popular loyalty and
ethos of participation. In this groundbreaking work, Anthony Kapcia
offers a much-needed corrective to 'Fidel-centric' histories of the
Cuban revolution, focussing instead on a wider cast of characters
unknown to casual observers of the post-1959 process. Besides the
more obvious (albeit often misunderstood) contributions from Che
Guevara and Raul Castro, each decade since has seen several key
players involved in the processes of decision-making, often making
a significant difference to the outcome of debates, decisions and
definitions. As well as analysing their influence, Kapcia
interprets their various roles within a wider process of
nation-building, demonstrating that Cuba has undergone an unusual,
if not unique, process of revolutionary corporatism. Essential
reading for anyone interested in Cuba's history and its possible
future direction.
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