Haydee Speaks of Moncada: The Spark That Lit the Cuban Revolution

by Haydée Santamaría

Haydée Santamaría first achieved notoriety by being one of two women who participated in the armed attack by a group of young activists led by Fidel Castro that sparked the Cuban Revolution. She was captured and horrifically tortured but on her release joined the underground movement against the Batista dictatorship. Later, as director of the world-renowned literary institution Casa de las Americas, Haydée embraced culture as a tool for social change and provided refuge for exiled Latin American artists and intellectuals.

Genres: Nonfiction, History

100 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2005

About the author

Haydée Santamaría Cuadrado was a revolutionary and politician, regarded as a heroine in post-revolutionary Cuba. She participated in the assault on Moncada Barracks in Santiago de Cuba on July 26, 1953, an action for which she was imprisoned along with Melba Hernández. She was a founding member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and one of the first women to join the PCC. She maintained a high position in its leadership throughout her life.

Reviews

[Yellow Baert]

Great formatting and wonderful perspective on an enlightening and pivotal moment in the Cuban national consciousness awakening

[Dante]

Neat interview, cool format. Interesting first-hand account of Moncada, clarification of the development of the rebels' views from scattered towards marxism. Shoutout Casa de las Americas

[Petra Magallon]

Haydee Santamaria’s collaborative form of communication is transcribed excellently in this.

[Faiz]

great insight into the reality of anti-fascist revolution