Cuba and the Fall

Cuba and the Fall PDF Author: Eduardo González
Publisher: University of Virginia Press
ISBN: 0813929873
Category : Literary Criticism
Languages : en
Pages : 319

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Book Description
The literature of Cuba, argues Eduardo González in this new book, takes on quite different features depending on whether one is looking at it from "the inside" or from "the outside," a view that in turn is shaped by official political culture and the authors it sanctions or by those authors and artists who exist outside state policies and cultural politics. González approaches this issue by way of two twentieth-century writers who are central to the canon of gay homoerotic expression and sensibility in Cuban culture: José Lezama Lima (1910–1976) and Reinaldo Arenas (1943–1990). Drawing on the plots and characters in their works, González develops both a story line and a moral tale, revolving around the Christian belief in the fall from grace and the possibility of redemption, that bring the writers into a unique and revealing interaction with one another. The work of Lezama Lima and Arenas is compared with that of fellow Cuban author Virgilio Piñera (1912–1979) and, in a wider context, with the non-Cuban writers John Milton, Nathaniel Hawthorne, William Faulkner, John Ruskin, and James Joyce to show how their themes get replicated in González’s selected Cuban fiction. Also woven into this interaction are two contemporary films—The Devil’s Backbone (2004) and Pan’s Labyrinth (2007)—whose moral and political themes enhance the ethical values and conflicts of the literary texts. Referring to this eclectic gathering of texts, González charts a cultural course in which Cuba moves beyond the Caribbean and into a latitude uncharted by common words, beyond the tyranny of place.

Cuba and the Fall

Cuba and the Fall PDF Author: Eduardo González
Publisher: University of Virginia Press
ISBN: 0813929873
Category : Literary Criticism
Languages : en
Pages : 319

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Book Description
The literature of Cuba, argues Eduardo González in this new book, takes on quite different features depending on whether one is looking at it from "the inside" or from "the outside," a view that in turn is shaped by official political culture and the authors it sanctions or by those authors and artists who exist outside state policies and cultural politics. González approaches this issue by way of two twentieth-century writers who are central to the canon of gay homoerotic expression and sensibility in Cuban culture: José Lezama Lima (1910–1976) and Reinaldo Arenas (1943–1990). Drawing on the plots and characters in their works, González develops both a story line and a moral tale, revolving around the Christian belief in the fall from grace and the possibility of redemption, that bring the writers into a unique and revealing interaction with one another. The work of Lezama Lima and Arenas is compared with that of fellow Cuban author Virgilio Piñera (1912–1979) and, in a wider context, with the non-Cuban writers John Milton, Nathaniel Hawthorne, William Faulkner, John Ruskin, and James Joyce to show how their themes get replicated in González’s selected Cuban fiction. Also woven into this interaction are two contemporary films—The Devil’s Backbone (2004) and Pan’s Labyrinth (2007)—whose moral and political themes enhance the ethical values and conflicts of the literary texts. Referring to this eclectic gathering of texts, González charts a cultural course in which Cuba moves beyond the Caribbean and into a latitude uncharted by common words, beyond the tyranny of place.

The Cuban Revolution

The Cuban Revolution PDF Author: Charles Alexander Thomson
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Cuba
Languages : en
Pages : 260

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Book Description


Cuban Revelations

Cuban Revelations PDF Author: Marc Frank
Publisher: University Press of Florida
ISBN: 0813047846
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 469

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Book Description
In Cuban Revelations, Marc Frank offers a first-hand account of daily life in Cuba at the turn of the twenty-first century, the start of a new and dramatic epoch for islanders and the Cuban diaspora. A U.S.-born journalist who has called Havana home for almost a quarter century, Frank observed in person the best days of the revolution, the fall of the Soviet Bloc, the great depression of the 1990s, the stepping aside of Fidel Castro, and the reforms now being devised by his brother. Examining the effects of U.S. policy toward Cuba, Frank analyzes why Cuba has entered an extraordinary, irreversible period of change and considers what the island's future holds. The enormous social engineering project taking place today under Raúl's leadership is fraught with many dangers, and Cuban Revelations follows the new leader's efforts to overcome bureaucratic resistance and the fears of a populace that stand in his way. In addition, Frank offers a colorful chronicle of his travels across the island's many and varied provinces, sharing candid interviews with people from all walks of life. He takes the reader outside the capital to reveal how ordinary Cubans live and what they are thinking and feeling as fifty-year-old social and economic taboos are broken. He shares his honest and unbiased observations on extraordinary positive developments in social matters, like healthcare and education, as well as on the inefficiencies in the Cuban economy.

How Things Fall Apart

How Things Fall Apart PDF Author: Elizabeth Dore
Publisher: Duke University Press
ISBN: 1478027304
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 195

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Book Description
In How Things Fall Apart Elizabeth Dore reveals the decay of the Cuban political system through the lives of seven ordinary Cuban citizens. Born in the 1970s and 1980s, they recount how their lives changed over a tumultuous stretch of thirty-five years: first when Fidel Castro opened the country to tourism following the fall of the Soviet bloc; then when Raúl Castro allowed market forces to operate; and finally when President Trump’s tightening of the US embargo combined with the COVID-19 pandemic caused economic collapse. With warmth and humanity, they describe learning to survive in an environment where a tiny minority has grown rich, the great majority has been left behind, and inequality has destroyed the very things that used to give meaning to Cubans’ lives. In this book, everyday Cubans illuminate their own stories and the slow and agonizing decline of the Cuban Revolution.

Cuba Since the Revolution of 1959

Cuba Since the Revolution of 1959 PDF Author: Samuel Farber
Publisher: Haymarket Books
ISBN: 1608461394
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 386

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Book Description
Uncritically lauded by the left and impulsively denounced by the right, the Cuban Revolution is almost universally viewed one dimensionally. Farber, one of its most informed left-wing critics, provides a much-needed critical assessment of the revolution’s impact and legacy.

The Evolution of Cultural Policy in Cuba

The Evolution of Cultural Policy in Cuba PDF Author: Roger Reed
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Communism and culture
Languages : en
Pages : 603

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Book Description


Cuba After the Cold War

Cuba After the Cold War PDF Author: Carmelo Mesa-Lago
Publisher: University of Pittsburgh Pre
ISBN: 0822974568
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 401

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Book Description
Ten original essays by an international team of scholars specializing in Cuba, the Soviet Union, Eastern Europe, and Latin America focus on the fall of communism in Europe and the transition to a market economy. Major themes of this study are the impact of the USSR's collapse on Cuba, how the historic events in Europe have affected the Central and South American Left, their implications to Cuba, Cuba's policies for confronting the crisis, and potential scenarios for the political and economic transformation of Cuba.

Debating Cuban Exceptionalism

Debating Cuban Exceptionalism PDF Author: L. Whitehead
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 1137123532
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 254

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Book Description
This volume traces the developments in Cuba following the fall of the Berlin Wall and the subsequent definitive demise of state socialism. Topics covered include: the reasons for the persistence of 'the Cuban model,' and an examination of the interaction between elite and non-elite actors, as well as between domestic and international forces.

The Cuban Dilemma

The Cuban Dilemma PDF Author: R. Hart Phillips
Publisher: Pickle Partners Publishing
ISBN: 1787209393
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 518

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Book Description
AN EYEWITNESS ACCOUNT BY THE NEW YORK TIMES CORRESPONDENT—WHAT REALLY OCCURRED IN CUBA AFTER FIDEL CASTRO SEIZED POWER In three short years Fidel Castro and his revolution have destroyed the once prosperous economy of Cuba and helped the Soviet Union establish its first armed beachhead in the Western Hemisphere. Ruby Hart Phillips, for twenty-five years the resident New York Times correspondent in Havana, maintains that Castro’s takeover is a classic example of the incredibly inadequate American policy in foreign affairs. A display of courage and foresight even as late as 1958 would, she declares, have neutralized Castro and put Cuba back on the road to democracy. The claim by Castro supporters, both in Cuba and the United States, that Castro was pushed into the Communist camp by our mistaken foreign policy is clearly shown to be one of the great lies of the Castro revolution. But, she stresses, the United States must take the whole responsibility for Cuba’s communism today. Step by step she analyzes the indecisive and conciliatory moves of the U.S. State.

The Rise and Fall of Fidel Castro

The Rise and Fall of Fidel Castro PDF Author: William Jones
Publisher: Mamba Press
ISBN:
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 55

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Book Description
In "The Rise and Fall of Fidel Castro," we embark on a journey through the extraordinary life and complex legacy of one of the most iconic and controversial figures of the 20th century. Fidel Castro's impact on Cuba, the Americas, and global politics is the subject of intense debate, and this book delves into the multifaceted dimensions of his leadership, from revolutionary heroism to political controversy. From his early years as a rebellious law student to his historic rise to power as the leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro's story is one of audacity, resilience, and unwavering commitment to socialist ideals. The book explores the roots of his revolutionary fervor, the triumphs and tribulations of the Cuban Revolution, and the challenges faced by Cuba in the wake of his leadership. As we journey through the pages of this book, we delve into the social achievements of the Cuban Revolution, including groundbreaking advances in healthcare and education that earned global recognition. We also confront the controversies surrounding political repression, human rights violations, and limitations on freedom of speech that have marked Castro's legacy. "The Rise and Fall of Fidel Castro" goes beyond Cuba's borders to examine Castro's role in international affairs, from supporting leftist movements and governments in Latin America to his involvement in conflicts in Africa and the Middle East. We witness how Cuba's internationalism and solidarity with other nations shaped its foreign policy and global influence. The book delves into the economic challenges faced by Cuba, particularly during the "Special Period" following the collapse of the Soviet Union. It explores the dual economy, economic reforms, and the delicate balance between socialism and market forces that continue to shape Cuba's economic trajectory. "The Rise and Fall of Fidel Castro" also examines the normalization of relations between Cuba and the United States, a historic development with profound implications for both countries. The book navigates the complex relationship between Cuba and the Cuban exile community in the United States, highlighting the divisions and debates surrounding Castro's legacy. As we reach the epilogue, we witness how Fidel Castro's legacy endures in the 21st century, shaping Cuba's identity, politics, and aspirations. The book concludes with reflections on the enduring influence of a leader whose impact transcends time and place. This comprehensive and thought-provoking exploration of Fidel Castro's life and legacy offers readers a nuanced understanding of a figure who inspired devotion and criticism in equal measure. "The Rise and Fall of Fidel Castro" is a must-read for anyone interested in the history, politics, and enduring legacy of the Cuban Revolution.