Che: The Diaries of Ernesto Che Guevara

by Ernesto Che Guevara

The book of the new, two-part epic movie on Che Guevara starring Benicio Del Toro as the legendary revolutionary. Director Steven Soderbergh has based his two-part movie "Che" ( Part 1: The Argentine and Part 2: Guerrilla ) on two classic diaries written by Che Reminiscences of the Cuban Revolutionary War (an account of the guerrilla movement led by Fidel Castro that overthrew the Batista dictatorship in 1959) and Bolivian Diary (Che’s famous, unfinished diary discovered in his backpack when he was captured and killed in Bolivia in October 1967). Che includes a selection from each book, showing the young Argentine’s evolution from the wide-eyed medical student of the Motorcycle Diaries -era to the revolutionary hero the world knows as Che. Also published in Spanish this season is Los Diarios de Ernesto Che Guevara , 978-1-921235-48-1.

Genres: Nonfiction

171 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

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

[Anastasia]

In short, I thought this was interesting, but I think I should have just read the actual diaries instead.

[Yoselin]

Very educational. I wish I would have just read the two books these excerpts were taken from in their entirety. I was left with many questions. I did appreciate that the pictures and UN speech were included. 3.5 stars

[Krystalrose]

Although I do not agree with all of Ches writing. The diary offers an insight to his way of thinking, why he felt strongly about his politics views and the anguish of being a “leader”. Che’s personal diary allows the reader to immerse themselves in Cubas 1950s revolutionary war.

[Diane C.]

Sparse, lacking context or narrative. These excerpts merely highlight the need to read the unabridged diaries to gain any real insight.

[Stuart Hodge]

Interesting, but it is only excerpts of larger texts. ok as a primer on some of Guevara's activities

[Faisal]

Great movie, but sorry boring book.

[Michael Schulz]

Interesting. A little short. Learned some things I didn't know. So it was worth reading.

[Kelly Cooley]

Great book. Definitely read some of Che work before reading this book or it maybe confusing.