Fidel Castro

by Clive Foss

Fidel Castro is a dynamic and charismatic leader, who has led Cuba through success and failures since 1959. Son of a rich landowner, he became a radical revolutionary who attempted to overthrow the government in 1956 with a tiny band of followers. Using propaganda and subversion as much as sudden attacks from his mountain hideout, he gained victory in 1959. He liberated his country from one dictator and the overwhelming influence of the United States, only to turn it into another dictatorship firmly under the control and patronage of the Soviet Union. The failure of the American attack at the Bay of Pigs in 1961 added to his reputation, while the missile crisis of 1962 put Cuba right at the centre of the Cold War. Later, by sending his army to Africa and supporting guerrilla movements in Latin America, he made Cuba a significant player on the world stage. Despite many attempts to remove him and the economic collapse of the USSR, Castro survived and in 1999, celebrated 40 years of his regime.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, History

112 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[Hazim Khan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really great if you are going to Cuba and want to know about its past I started reading this when I was leaving Havana and wished I read before! Such a powerful figure but tragically flawed also I feel sorry for Cubans

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have not read anything else on Fidel Castro, though I do have a little knowledge about his revolution - garnered from movies and the numerous article covering Cuba and its enigmatic leader. This book cuts to the chase, scanning over the various events from Castro's life. Starting with his upbringing ans schooling, it takes a whirlwind tour through his rising ambitions, his revolution and the country he has subsequently crafted after an ideal that all men should be equal.

This book tends to call it as it is, so it doesn't shy away from either speaking positively of Castro's successes or looking at the negative impact of many of his decisions and policies. It's not a judgmental piece, leaving such insights to the reader.

Given how complicated a topic Castro turns out to be, one such short book can not hope to cover it all. But it doesn't aim to, instead making for a detailed but breezy introduction to the world of Castro.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Glad I read this AFTER I visited Cuba. This was a real eye-opener which gave a good insight into the man who is Fidel Castro. Well worth the read.

[Bill38silver · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an easy, quick read about a highly influential man in Latin America who started with a handful of supporters of a revolution but ended as dictator controlling a vast organisational network that restrained the individual, frequently the poor. This slim volume was published in 2000 so this short biography ends rather abruptly (Castro died in 2016) but I had read enough by chapter 6 of 8 not to be enthused to learn much more of Fidel's infidelities and machinations.

Having visited Cuba twice, spread over 20 years or so, it comes as no surprise to me that the formidable Castro does not now retain such hero status. This book provides a sketch of the struggles to control power in Cuba between 1950 and 1999. Given the malevolent involvement of Russia and, more so, the USA, in that period it is no surprise that Cuban society struggles to move forward today.

[Shaharuddin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Buku ringkas tapi padat yang menampung keseluruhan riwayat Fidel Castro dari seorang anak orang kaya yang berkahwin dengan orang gaji sehingga menjadi pemimpin revolusi. Dari revolusi Castro terus dengan mimpinya bermusuh dengan Amerika Syarikat dan terlalu bergantung dengan Soviet Union. Dari seorang pejuang rakyat kepada seorang diktator.

Buku yang nipis tapi mengambil masa yang tidak singkat. Bahasa Inggeris yang digunakan menggunakan bahasa literature yang perlu semakan kamus.

[Nikkydan99 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,8 stars

[Luisa Sánchez Vázquez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sencilla y breve biografía, apta para todos los públicos independientemente de su conocimiento previo

[Sophia Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brinda una perspectiva objetiva de Castro y Cuba en general.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice concise biography. Makes me want to read more.