Che, Fidel, and the improbable revolution that changed world history Perrttet, Tony. creator autor. text biography nyu 2019 monographic eng spa

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367 pages, 16 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations, maps ; 24 cm "Historian and travel writer Tony 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. Most people are familiar with 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. But less is commonly remembered about the amateur nature of the upstart movement, or the lives of its players. 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: How did Fidel's highly organized lover Celia Sanchez whip the male guerrillas into shape? Who were the two dozen American volunteers who joined the Cuban rebels? How do you make lethal land mines from condensed milk cans -- or, for that matter, cook chorizo à la guerrilla (sausage guerrilla-style)? Cuba Libre 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"-- "A pop-history account of the Cuban Revolution"-- 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" -- Raụ́l 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. Tony Perrottet. nwcu--- Castro, Fidel 1926-2016 Guevara, Che 1928-1967 HISTORY / Modern / 21st Century HISTORY / Caribbean & West Indies / Cuba HISTORY / United States / 20th Century Cuba History Revolution, 1959 Cuba Historia Revolución, 1959 107 F 1788 P461c 2019 972.9106/40922 HIS037080 HIS041010 HIS036060 9780735218161 (hardback) DLC 180921 20230411090652.0 eng