Che. Der Traum des Rebellen.

by Ernesto Che Guevara, Óscar Sola

Ernesto Che Guevara (1928–1967) was the most famous revolutionary of the twentieth century. Born in Argentina, Che grew up in a bohemian family and went on to train as a physician. As a young doctor travelling throughout Latin America, he experienced a political awakening that altered the course of his life. He participated in the 1952 riots against the dictator Juan Péron in Argentina, joined agitators in Bolivia, worked for the pro-Communist regime of Jacobo Arbenz Guzmán in Guatemala and, when Arbenz was overthrown in 1954, fled to Mexico, where he first met Fidel Castro. Che became one of Castro's closest and most trusted friends, and after the 1956 rebel invasion of Cuba became his chief lieutenant. Che proved to be a resourceful guerrilla leader and was instrumental in establishing the Communist state in Cuba. He continued to foster revolutionary activity in other countries until the time of his death in 1967 when he was captured and executed by government troops in Bolivia while directing a guerrilla group Images of Revolutionary features 400 photographs–many of them never before published. The book follows Che’s life from early childhood to political activist to his death. Writings, including Che’s own speeches, pieces from Fidel Castro and an elegy by Allen Ginsberg, complement the visually stunning photographs in this large format collection. The book is a result of exhaustive research in public and private archives in Cuba, Argentina, Bolivia, Europe and North America. A concluding chapter discusses the ‘Guevara myth’ from his death until the present day.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Biography

223 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Ernesto "Che" Guevara, commonly known as El Che or simply Che, was a Marxist revolutionary, physician, author, intellectual, guerrilla leader, diplomat, and military theorist. A major figure of the Cuban Revolution, since his death Guevara's stylized visage has become an ubiquitous countercultural symbol and global icon within popular culture.

His belief in the necessity of world revolution to advance the interests of the poor prompted his involvement in Guatemala's social reforms under President Jacobo Arbenz, whose eventual CIA-assisted overthrow solidified Guevara's radical ideology. Later, while living in Mexico City, he met Raúl and Fidel Castro, joined their movement, and travelled to Cuba with the intention of overthrowing the U.S.-backed Batista regime. Guevara soon rose to prominence among the insurgents, was promoted to second-in-command, and played a pivotal role in the successful two year guerrilla campaign that topled the Cuban government.

After serving in a number of key roles in the new government, Guevara left Cuba in 1965 to foment revolution abroad, first unsuccessfully in Congo-Kinshasa and later in Bolivia, where he was captured by CIA-assisted Bolivian forces and executed.

Guevara remains both a revered and reviled historical figure, polarized in the collective imagination in a multitude of biographies, memoirs, essays, documentaries, songs, and films. Time magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people of the 20th century, while an Alberto Korda photograph of him entitled "Guerrillero Heroico," was declared "the most famous photograph in the world" by the Maryland Institute of Art.

Reviews

[Sub Sakoul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mεταφερόμαστε στη Λατινική Αμερική στα μέσα του 20ου αιώνα όπου οι καταπιεσμένοι λαοί κάθονται σε αναμμένα κάρβουνα εξαιτίας των σκληρών και πολλές φορές δικτατορικών καθεστώτων που έχουν εδραιωθεί σε πολλά κράτη με τη βοήθεια των Η.Π.Α..

Ο Τσε επηρεασμένος από την επικράτηση των Μπολσεβίκων στη Ρωσία έναντι του τσάρου το 1917 και από τα κείμενα του Μαρξ και αρκετών προοδευτικών ποιητών και συγγραφέων της εποχής( Λόρκα, Νερούδα), θα απαρνηθεί την αστική καταγωγή του και θα ξεκινήσει το ταξίδι του προς το πάνθεον της αιωνιότητας...Ο ασθματικός αυτός στοχαστής θα εξελιχθεί σε σύμβολο των καταπιεσμένων και των επαναστατών σε όλο τον κόσμο..Ο μύθος γύρω από τη ζωή του και το θάνατό του πάντα θα εμπνέει τους ανθρωπιστές κάθε είδους..

Η ζωή του Ερνέστο λοιπόν μέσα από το ημερολόγιό του, από ποιήματα και πορτρέτα καλλιτεχνών και μέσα από δεκάδες φωτογραφίες από τη γέννηση του μέχρι το τέλος του που θα τον κάνει μάρτυρα και θα δώσει μυθικές διαστάσεις στον άνθρωπο που ταύτισε τις ιδέες του με τις πράξεις του όσο ελάχιστοι στην παγκόσμια ιστορία..Φωτογραφίες όπως αυτή του Κόρντα που είναι και η πιο γνωστή του Τσε με το αφηρημένο και απλανές βλέμμα του μας παρουσιάζονται μέσα από τους ίδιους τους φωτογράφους και πως αυτοί τις βίωσαν τις στιγμές που τραβήχτηκαν...
Αν κάποιος θέλει να διαβάσει τη βιογραφία του Τσε το συγκεκριμένο βιβλίο είναι ο πιο εύκολος τρόπος να το κάνει..

" Αν θέλουμε να εκφράσουμε πως θέλουμε να είναι οι άνθρωποι των μελλοντικών γενεών, πρέπει να πούμε: Να είναι σαν τον Τσε! Αν θέλουμε να πούμε πώς επιθυμούμε να ανατραφούν τα παιδιά μας, ας πούμε δίχως δισταγμό : Θέλουμε να ανατραφούν στο πνεύμα του Τσε"!
- Φιντέλ Κάστρο

5 αστέρια χωρίς δεύτερη σκέψη...

[Kazem · Rating 4 out of 5]

یک انقلابی به تمام معنا که حتی پس از رسیدن به قدرت هم محافظه کار نشد

[Max · Rating 5 out of 5]

A loving portrait of Che Guevara recommended for everyone who wants to learn about him.

This is one of the best photo books I've ever encountered, with a fantastic selection of images. Evidently resulting from extensive research, it features all the usual photos of Che and many more, some of which are particularly valuable: his childhood, personal life and even the original contact strip that includes the iconic portrait seen on the cover.

The accompanying text provides excellent context. The biography, though relatively short, touches on nearly all the points needed to frame the images. A wide array of quotes enriches the book with extracts from poems, letters, diaries... Some unconventional directions are taken, too, such as surprising aesthetic analyses.

[Adora · Rating 5 out of 5]

مقدمه آرش حجازی بر کتاب چه گوارا، چهره یک انقلابی

[Richmond Apore · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad, but felt at times like an exact regurgitation of Lee Anderson's biography, at least the narrative portion. Certainly fitted with lots of pictures, over 200 images at least. My personal favorite was one of Che wearing a batakari during his visit to Ghana. The image of him with his medical school peers during an anatomy class was a great find. I especially loved the chronology the author listed at the end of the book; very helpful for future quick reference when one wants to be reminded of certain dates/events in Che's whirlwind revolutionary life.

[Juan · Rating 5 out of 5]

La mejor colección de fotografías del Che que he visto.

[Chase Parsley · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is like a photo album with so many pictures, and is fascinating throughout. Garcia really romanticizes the Cuban Revolution and Che though. Very cool book to have.

[Jimmakos Gavagias · Rating 4 out of 5]

i never liked the pics of che dead.Very interesting generally.