Fidel and Che: The Revolutionary Friendship Between Fidel Castro and Che Guevara

by Simon Reid-Henry

A unique dual portrait shines new light on two of the most dramatic figures of the twentieth century. Drawing on sources in Cuba, Latin America, the United States, Europe, and Russia, and on material not available to previous biographers, Simon Reid-Henry has crafted a compelling portrait of a revolutionary era and the two men whose names and deeds personify it: Fidel Castro and Che Guevara. What began as an association of convenience would fundamentally shape their political visions, propelling them further than either had dared imagine. Ironically, though, their jointly conceived vision of revolution would ultimately force them to choose between friendship and their beliefs.

At a momentous turning point in Cuban history, Simon Reid-Henry offers a fascinating and original chronicle of two of the most powerful personalities in recent memory.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Politics, Biography, World History, Biography Memoir, Latin American History

480 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Peter Ruys · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m guessing that like a lot of people, I’d heard of Fidel Castro and Che Guevara but didn’t know anything much about them and now, after reading this book on and off for what seems like forever, I feel like I still don’t in a way.
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The main trouble I had is that it seemed to be aimed at academics or at least people with a thorough understanding of the political climate of the time. All of the historical information that I wanted to get some understanding of eg. Communism and the literature, anti-capitalism, revolutionism, relations between Latin America and the US, The Cold War, Cuban missile crisis, Russia and China, etc. was all referred to in a way that presumed the reader was well versed in all of this.
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Also this book failed to make me feel and relate to why these two revolutionary figures did what they did and why they were willing to fight, kill others, and risk their own lives for the cause. Whether this is a failing on the books part or my lack of pre existing knowledge I don’t know? This is probably a very different book to others.
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Apart from all that it was an interesting read and I now know more about these two historical figures than I did before, it just wasn’t the best place to start for me.
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2.5/5 ⭐️
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[Erik Graff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having read several biographies of both Fidel Castro and Che Guevara there wasn't much that was new here, not that was outstanding in any case, although apparently the author had extraordinary access to records in Cuba and in states formerly in the Warsaw Pact. What this consists of are two brief biographies of the principals up until Che's execution in 1967 with a primary focus on their relationship with one another during the dozen years of their association. Here there is some controversy, Che often being represented as the Maoist hothead, Fidel as the relatively moderate statesman, their separation, geographically, being in part the result of their conflict. While acknowledged by Reid-Henry, his account portrays them as being closer, both personally and politically, than some of the others.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very thorough history of Fidel and Che's time working together. Although the title concerns friendship, I'm not entirely sure the dynamic of their relationship is exemplified enough through all the historical detail. The author has obviously done extensive research and has articulated the key points of their history together, gives a few cues here and there, but does leave some of it up to the reader to figure out on their own. Plus, since one guy's long dead and the other not really accessible, much is left to speculation.

As a general Cuban Revolution enthusiast with a working knowledge of the events and key players, I found this book laid another layer of granular information I hadn't yet gleaned from other readings - there was more to this than the same old rehash of the revolution. This is not a quick read by any means, and Cuban Revolution/Che/Fidel novices may find this book a bit overwhelming.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

it is the story of a remarkable friendship between to iconic figures while both in exile in Mexico City. Guevara, the Argentine doctor had reached the end of his travels on his motorcycle had had begun many years before. Castro the peasant's son, scholar & rebel had just fled Cuba fearing for his life. until Guevara's death in 1967 their journey together was as interesting, exciting & sometimes as dangerous as their friendship....

[SD · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely scratched an itch . Know so much more about these fascinating people and Latin America during their time. Was a little dense , but a solid read!

[Asif · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a superb double-biography of both Che and Fidel which breaks new ground in having their
friendship as its central theme and focus; especially the revelations that, unlike what was previously thought, the decision for Che to leave Cuba was fully backed by Fidel and the latter was intimately involved in Che's guerilla tactics in the Congo and then in Bolivia. It was a part of the two friends' strategy of internationalising their revolution without antagonising the USSR upon whose economic support Cuba depended.

This book had so many details about Che and Fidel which were fascinating including of their love-lives and the way they almost played good-cop, bad-cop with outsiders.

My admiration for these two grew after reading this book. Will definitely re-read it some time soon.
Highly recommended.

Hasta siempre, Comandante, Che Guevara!
Hasta siempre, Comandante, Fidel Castro!

[Glorious · Rating 4 out of 5]

A biography of the friendship from two very different revolutionaries from very different backgrounds. Ultimately, modestly successful on their own in their respective fields, to use a socialist phrase to describe their relationship, it is when they are both united that they become better than the sum of its parts.

A great book if you want to find out about the friendship, values and views on what the plans were for continent-wide revolution that sadly never came to fruition after Che left Fidel's side to progress the Trotskyite plans of perpetual revolutionary progress.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing! Admittedly, I have a morbid fascination with Fidel Castro. Before starting this book however, I was not deeply familiar with Che Guevara. As a historical book, this was a page turner. Mr. Read-Henry does an outstanding job of painting the picture of how these men were shaped by the events of their early life and how their friendship was then borne out of mutual respect and benefit. I would recommend this highly to anyone interested in either of these individuals, in the history of the Cuban-Castro revolution, or in the way that different dynamic individuals form relationships.

[Mehdi · Rating 5 out of 5]

It has to be the best book I've read on South America, Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro, Camilo and Che Guevara by million miles. As I was flipping the pages of this book, a fear tended to grow inside me thinking will I get to read a better book than this? Absolutely one of my favourite book.
Viva Che
Viva Fidel.

[Mohamed Ismail · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I have read completely without reading other books in between and especially in English. Best book to read. After I read this book, I started knowing more about Fidel than Che. I loved both of them.

[Richmond Apore · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an impressively fair appreciation of the revolutionary friendship between Fidel and Che. Admittedly, I bought this book expecting the same tired, repeated angle (the so-called falling out between Fidel and Che precipitating the latter's uneventful missions in Congo and Bolivia), but that wasn't what I got. Instead, I was thoroughly educated on details of this revolutionary friendship that, in passing, I had never fully appreciated whenever reading books focused on either subject, such as Tad Szulc's on Fidel or Jon Lee Anderson's on Che.

To that end, Simon Reid-Henry deserves praise. Cold War-era politics and geopolitical intrigue are already convoluted. Add to that the intricacies of the Sino-Soviet split, which occurred right as the Cuban Revolution came of age. On one side, you had the pragmatic socialist Fidel, for whom the survival of the Cuban communist project came before ideological purity to Marxism. On the other, there was the rigid and uncompromising Che, a Marxist hardliner for whom the global eradication of oppression and capitalism took precedence over loyalty to the Soviets. Reid-Henry’s ability to navigate these treacherous waters while maintaining objectivity is impressive. He could have easily written this book filled with simplistic narratives influenced by the West’s and even the Soviets’ misunderstanding of Che and Fidel. Instead, he captures the nuanced relationship between two men who understood the core of each other so deeply that the conflicting voices around them—and even their seemingly contradictory actions—ultimately meant nothing to their bond.

While I wasn’t introduced to any groundbreaking new information on the subjects (Fidel and Che), I was able to appreciate the symbiosis of their relationship in a much more nuanced light. Formerly, I regarded their relationship as one of brotherly combatants united against exploitation. Now, I see them as complementary co-actors in a shared revolutionary mission. Each acted in concert with the other in every performance until the very end. Despite their differing idiosyncrasies, they needed one another to succeed in their shared dreams.

The quote that truly resonates with me—and perfectly embodies their revolutionary friendship—is found in the closing pages of the book, where Reid-Henry writes: "To Fidel, Che was the perfect revolutionary, and to Che, Fidel was the embodiment of the 'New Man' required of a socialist society.

[Ronnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

i bought this book some years back in Montreal.It stood in my book-case for quite a while. I picked it up last week as a change of reading from other books which had been reading. It was a unbelievable surprise. Rich Nuggets of information that confirm some events in secondary literature . It's funny these two people were at the forefront of nationalism and anticoonialis of the 1960's. The author brings them to life along with sets of characters that I renember reading about or seeing TV as a kid growing up with a developing sense of world happenings. The Bay Of Pigs. The Missile crisis..One of the funny things that stood out to me ..that riveted me to reading non-stop was the event of the Missile Crisis when the lower Russian persons with Fidel and Che were shocked that Krushchev didn't think to was important to make preparations for when the US would figure out that nuclear missiles were being situated in Cuba. He thought that he could sneak them in with out the US seeing it. This was evidence that Nikita was succumbing to the drunken stupor of Hubris feeling that he could do anything. That and the showing of the difference between the Soviet concept of Communism (co-existence with the imperialist) versus go to full blown revolution. One was for changing one system for another ...the other overthrowing everything that had subjugated humans. ...I'm not going to babble on. This is an excellent book. Read it. One more aspect..Technological Determinism. The fight between production and having some things....being a self-fulfilled person/human versus an automaton in a lifeless machinery that functions mindlessly. It's concepts like this made fascinating reading.....

[Ch3wbacca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew a little about these 2 historical figures but this book simply blew me away! I thought it was fantasticly written by an author who has definitely gone above and beyond in his research.

It had me hooked from the start and I found it very difficult to put it down. For someone like myself who knows a little about Che, Fidel and the Cold War, but really would like to know more without been overloaded then this is the perfect book.

Also it is important to know that the book mainly revolves around the friendship between the Fidel and Che, in particular their time together in Cuba.

[figs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really goes in depth and provides a clear picture of who these men are and their motives. Controversial as they may be, and regardless of whether people agree with their methods of governance, one has to admire the drive and love they must have for their class, country, and creed to take up arms not only in their own nation but also abroad. Nonetheless, it’s no wonder these men were a thorn in the side of U.S. foreign policy for so long.

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deeply moving, beautiful and desperately important.

"Patria o Muerte!" ... and I thoroughly agree.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book. I love reading about Cuba. It's a fascination I have.

[Ya-Ya Guevara · Rating 1 out of 5]

the lowest is what? zero.

[Andrew Buchanan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read...about fascinating men in z fascinating era

[Lukasz Kowalski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love these two fr

[lu · Rating 3 out of 5]

cute

[Paul Kearney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Individually both partook in the solemnity of vivacious reading. In Class both were top of educationally, middle of socially. Strategy and ideology formed in adolescence, Willing to take up arms and make the ultimate sacrifice for a cause.
While Fidel enjoyed the limelight of leader, Che the rigid discipline of ideological rebellion. Daring in battle both were lucky gamblers fighting against the odds.
While Fidel understood warfare was just one weapon in the arsenal of rebellion. Che strove for a pure revolution without compromise. Encompassed in the 'Cuban missile crises' While Fidel fought to politically strategize a way out, Che still only thought to revolutionize.
"No impediments to revolution should be able to exist all should be swept away" Fidel's words that long serving leaders modify. But Che lived as if they never left his mind.
While Fidel veered towards safeguarding his leadership and its achievements of increased literacy and healthcare. Che wanted to gamble it all in the pursuit of an all encompassing revolution that didn't respect national boarders. When Fidel accepted the generous soviet offer to purchase sugar cane at above market prices. Che would only contemplate the pure struggle of self sufficiency, Without Soviet bureaucracy, A pure gorilla government.
Although Fidel was a radical and deified the wishes of the worlds super powers by funding Che's failed revolutions in North Africa and Latin America. He was also conscious of Politics being the art of the possible. And pleaded with Che to slow down and wait for the opportune moment to strike. Unperturbed Che had a fearless suicidal restlessness. And was A true believer in Fidel's rhetoric of one mans spirit to raise revolution. In Che's death it would be left to Fidel to politically fight for the revolutionary ideal embodied completely in the image of Che.

[Gema Muchamad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Buku favorit saya! Siapa saja yang ingin mengetahui alam pikiran, alam interaksi dan wujud pergerakan seorang Fidel Castro dan Che Guevara sangat wajib membaca buku ini. Buku ini mengupas tuntas latar belakang perjuangan Fidel Castro dan Che Guevara. Fidel Castro tergugah oleh kapitalisme-oligarki Bautista antek Amerika yang hanya mengutamakan kepentingan kehidupan mewah mereka sedangkan masyarakat Kuba sangat miskin karena tak ada keadilan sosial, ekonomi, politik dll. Sedangkan Che Guevara tergugah oleh betapa mirisnya kehidupan masyarakat kecil di Amerika Selatan setelah ia melakukan "touring" ke negara-negara tersebut dan melihat langsung beberapa pemberontakan di negara latin yang diendorse oleh Amerika Serikat (AS) agar kepentingan AS bisa terjamin di negara tersebut. Fidel dan Che adalah saksi mata busuknya spionase AS di benua Amerika pada masa Perang Dingin

[Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book couldn't make up its mind whether it was for the general, interested reader or an academic audience. I guess that wasn't too bad for me, as I have a 'history' background but don't know an awful lot about this subject. However, I didn't like the fact that the end notes weren't numbered in the text; I like to find out where ideas have come from. Anyway, it is an interesting approach as its a biography of a friendship rather than of the individuals. It does start with Fidel and Che's backgrounds, which was interesting, and then a good account of the Cuban Revolution and early years of the regime. From then on it gets a little dull, picking up again once Che leaves Cuba for Africa. The writing style is simple and reasonably fluid. A decent read, but not a brilliant one.

[Mänsomläser · Rating 4 out of 5]

Den kubanska revolutionen inleddes med att Fidel Castro, Che Guevara och 80 ytterligare revolutionärer landsteg på Kuba den 2 december 1956. Tre dagar senare överfölls de av den kubanska armen som dödade över 60 av dem. Drygt tre år senare marscherade Castro och Che in som segrare i Havanna. Vilken jävla historia.

Som titeln antyder ligger fokus i boken på Castros och Ches relation, vilket jag tycker var ett lyckat grepp. En annan sak jag gillade var att boken skingrade den revolutionära, mytiska dimma som brukar omge Ches senare (misslyckade) försök att starta revolutioner i Kongo och i Bolivia och framställer dem istället mera som konsekvenser av (historiska!) omständigheter än av individuella, hjältemodiga beslut.

[Neil Novesky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highly readable and intriguing. It is too bad more outside of Cuba don't know much about it but for the embargo. It is shameful that a country with a higher literacy rate than we have is so little understood. Reading this will take away some of the ignorance about Cuba and its dramatic history. This well written book elaborates on one of the greatest, and least known, collaborations in modern times. Highly recommended.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent introduction and history into the early years of Che, Fidel and Cuba from the early fifties to Che's death in 1967, very easy to read and well paced, looks at the political machinations going on in the background as well as Che and Fidel's personalities and how they worked off each other as well as ultimately changing each other. All against the background of the Cold War and U.S. Soviet tensions it's a fascinating and worthwhile read.

[Aidan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Latin American history and politics, so I was really excited to read this. Fidel Castro and Che Guevara have loomed in international affairs for decades, and in the case of Che, long after his death. And while many people know how ruthless both men were when they came into power, this book showed their path to that point and really humanized them in a way.

[Khalid · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simon Reid-Henry has compiled a thoroughly readable book that covers the entirety of the relationship between Che and Fidel. The reader is given an insight into the dramatic lives that these two men lived separately and together. It is worth reading for this reason alone.

[Abraham Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a unique biography of a truly unique partnership and personal friendship. Insightful and engaging, this book clears up the myths and misunderstandings that shroud the two revolutionaries' lives and consolidates greater respect both men and their friendship deserve.

[Bruce R. Arnold · Rating 4 out of 5]

Worthwhile Rwading

Not as good as Jon Anderson's biography, but not really meant to be. This book focuses more on the interaction between Che and Fidel, and less on the historical context. Very much worth the time, just not an in-depth study.