Bacardi And The Long Fight For Cuba: The Biography of a Cause

Eccelente, interesante, ben scritto. Comprato per regalo. Ha fatto colpo.

didnt read - gave as a gift

inherently important in understanding the cuban culture, story, history . and future. what you walk away with is a keen sense that the history of this family is imperative in the cuban narrative.

I bought this book to learn more about my sister's family and what they endured having to leave everything and exile to a new country. Businesses lost, homes lost...all so sad.

I was not born on the Island as My parents(Habanero,Pinareño and Guarijito de una Playa en Santa Clara thank You) were. Nor would I visit the Island until it is Democratic in every aspect once again and not piecemeal so-called democracy,my family was not wealthy and was Apolitical and fled for Political not Monetary Reasons nor they come to Exploit this great country as later Arrivals have sadly to return several times to the island "sin Verguenza" ninguna,Also I do not drink at all nor smoke,yet my politics are Self-Described and proudly RightWing AntiCastro and AntiBatista Yet Pro-Prio/Pro-Autentico(without the Grau Socialistic Elements and land redistribution) Variety. This book cannot be criticized for not trying to paint a fair and actually surprisingly balanced and refreshing look at a Family from Oriente(be suspicious,history shows Orientales always messing up a good thing see batista and Fidel)who according to the Author who works off all places when he wrote this for NPR(hardly a Rightwing endeavor nor a bone to grind)were a Progressive family, Therein lies one of it's Flaws,the word "Progressive" is seen throughout the book as though it is a Godsend savior.The family does seem to have a rich history and its roots fighting for democracy stretch back to the Spanish(Its the Cuban American War not Spanish American,Cubans have been neglected in that regard a lot.)to Batista and Sadly Pro-Fidel later to be Anti-Fidel,It is a worthy history lesson when People who seem to be great orators and have that "hope" ingrained in too many only to be duped later.I do not like the fact the one of the early Founders had Anti-Church Leanings since To Him Catholicism was in duplicity with The Spaniards,and he had Masonic Leanings(again AntiChurch) and the author seems to delight that fact about the founders being of the enlightenment,Victor Hugo,Etcera and not being of the Church,(which To me despite the Modern Church In Cuba which is pandering to the Regime,I am still a Hardline Catholic.)Also,the Author seems to use the "Colossus" quote from Marti and twist it in way to hint at some sort of evil American So-called Imperialism,there is also the Annoying Cuban Elite word(as opposed to an American Elite Mainly Liberal from The Western and Eastern Seaboards Perhaps?)as if being Rich or inheritance should be looked down upon?Fidel's Father was Wealthy as pointed out in the book as was Che TheCoward.Despite these flaws and depending on sources as Dubious As Don Bohning(The Herald or the Tass), Marifeli Perez-Stable(apologist for the Regime,rumored to be a Spy)Cubans who are under the employment of the state and are on the island as well the travel to the island for "research".(annoying typical Romanticism)Non-Cubans Such Louis A Perez Jr,(Cuba Between Revolution and Reform) and of course an Anglo such as Tom Gjelten with that Liberal mindset of Guilt Should not Deter one from reading this book,and reap the lessons of history and One's Cuban Identity.