Reminiscences of the Cuban Revolutionary War: The Authorised Edition

by Ernesto Che Guevara

The writings of one of the greatest icons of the 20th century - revolutionary leader Che Guevara. These diaries follow on from the events recorded in the 'Motorcycle Diaries' and recount the experiences that would make Che a figure known around the world.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Politics, Biography, Memoir, War, Theory

314 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1963

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

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful account of battles on the ground during the Cuban revolution, but it can be very hard to follow at times. The book features lots of different names and places which can leave the reader at times quite confused.

Although this book lacks a considerable amount of stand out anecdotes, there is a story about a puppy that will tug on the heart strings and a few tales of individual acts of bravery that you will have no choice but to admire.

This is not a book that encourages you to judge Che Guevara, as it focuses far more on his companeros than it does on him. It does however offer an interesting, if occasionally complicated eye witness account of what happened in the Sierra Maestra.

If you are looking for a book on the politics of the revolution or a measure of the man, you are probably better off digging into Jon Lee Andersons book 'Che: A Revolutionary Life'. However, if you want to read an account of the day to day activities and struggles of a Cuban revolution (including, a guerilla 'pop up' cigar factory), warts and all,then this is a bit of history that you shouldn't ignore or pass by.

[Fatima-Zahra Tita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing read. I learned a lot about military and guerilla strategy, the day to day life of the revolutionaries in the woods of the Sierra Maestra and the Cuban peasant life of the late 50s. I was captivated by the hopes and dreams of a whole generation of young men and women, and very touched by the numerous tales of bravery and falling soldiers... must read!

[Olethros · Rating 3 out of 5]

-¿La distancia da perspectiva y no la cercanía?.-

Género. Ensayo.

Lo que nos cuenta. Revisión de la parte más bélica de la Revolución Cubana desde el ojo y la pluma de uno de sus protagonistas más (re)conocidos. Trabajo publicado originalmente como artículos a finales de los años cincuenta y comienzos de los sesenta en diferentes periódicos y que ha tenido varias ediciones (y revisiones) a lo largo de los años. Esta edición en concreto incluye las revisiones que dejó el propio autor sobre su obra, de puño y letra, en uno de los primeros ejemplares.

¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:

http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...

[Apolla · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this is probably necessary reading for anyone who ever cared about political change. You don't have to agree with him, but it's fascinating - to a point.

There's a lot of reciting of facts - names mostly - and while it's actually quite touching that he cared enough to want the names of his fellow revolutionaries to be remembered, it doesn't make it a page-turner.

Mostly, it was one of those books which didn't change my mind so much as reassure me that I hold the opinions I hold for good reasons and bring some new clarity to it.

But to be honest? Watch Che: Part One and miss all the dull bits.

[Joseph Pitard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have a lot of respect for the way this is written. The accounts in the Cuban Revolutionary War felt very descriptive and I enjoyed it more than I expected. On the downside, there was so many names thrown into the story that it becomes a gigantic headache at some moments.

[Agnese Caccia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ottima lettura per chi è interessato a conoscere le strategie dei ribelli durante la rivoluzione cubana. Più che sulla figura di Che Guevara, si concentra sui rapporti e i mezzi dei ribelli. Alle volte può risultare impegnativo e abbastanza faticoso da leggere, in particolar modo a causa delle innumerevoli citazioni a luoghi e persone sconosciuti.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

The fighting journal entries were good, well described. I skimmed names halfway through, just too many to keep track of.
Favorite chapter was Camilo, very moving writing style. Extra star.

[Dani (The Pluviophile Writer) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full review at The Pluviophile Reader: http://wp.me/p3VFNP-8l

3/5 stars.
Paperback, 320 pages.
Read from February 07 to 16, 2015.

I picked up this gem while I was actually in Cuba back in January of this year. It was my first trip to Cuba and I realized how little I knew about this fascinating little country with its big and expansive history. Thankfully there wasn't a shortage of propaganda where I was staying. If I had more money and space in my suitcase I would have purchased quite a few more books.

Che is a remarkable individual and his dedication to Cuba and to the cause of communism is almost next to nothing. Che comes across as extremely intelligent and very articulate. His memoirs and diaries are published everywhere which probably makes him one of the most exposed politicians around. Don't get me wrong, the Cuban government is pretty good at giving the leaders of their communist revolution a great reputation, and they have to. The history of Cuba is a rocky one, so the insurgence of this particular revolution was necessary for its time. From the Spanish to the British, and then the US, someone else was always taking advantage of Cuba and its people suffered for it. In 1933, Sergeant Fulgencio Batista threw a coup to overthrow Gerado Machado, a Cuban dictator known for his vicious rule. Sadly, after this coup, little changed under Batista's rule. It was in 1953 when Fidel Castro made his first attempt to revolt against Batista's regime. It would be after this attack that a young Argentinian doctor named Ernesto Guevara would join the cause and assist in Cuba's revolution and liberation.

"Che" is a form of colloquial Argentinian Spanish slang used in a vocative sense as "friend". Che is the famous nickname given to Ernesto as a joke and term of endearment based on his heritage from his fellow Cuban comrades.

This book is a personal description of Che's experiences during this pivotal revolution. Che spares no details with how difficult it was living in the forest for months at time and the sad deaths and sacrifices endured by all, especially the peasants of Cuba, who were initially afraid to assist or join the cause. His recollection is impressive as he remembers many of the names of some of the small time peasants who were essential in helping with the revolution that might have other wise been forgotten. He also details the specifics of those who betrayed the cause. Some he speaks of with remorse or honor and others with absolute distaste and resentment. It was exciting to see how big the small group of rebels became over such a short period of time . In 1959 the rebels send a group of 9000 strong into Havana, forcing Batista to flee, starting the beginning of a new era for Cuba, one that would bring positive change to the country and the lives of its people for the better.

From my own impressions of Cuba, some aspects of communism are no longer serving its people. Don't read me wrong, I'm not saying that they need to replace their system with American capitalism but there are definitely areas that need improvement. The locals don't have immediate access to some of the best food or clothes because they are too expensive and some people are still not allowed to leave specific regions of Cuba. Tourists get the best of everything, while they don't. I was asked twice, discreetly, while I was there if I had any clothes or items that I was willing to part with. It made me pretty sad but if I wasn't there as a tourist their economy and the people there would have even less. With tensions currently being mended between America and Cuba, as much as I don't want this quaint country to become Americanized, it will eventually mean improvements for the locals.

Overall, a good description of the events and people that changed Cuba to make it the country that it is today.

[Fran Henderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very raw and frank but I found it a bit too dry

[Chronics · Rating 4 out of 5]

We may know the outcome, and it may not have been intention, but this almost reads in the fashion of a fictional action novel. Guevera's distinct analytical style however shines through, and if the reader was somehow unaware it wouldnt take long to realise they were reading history.

This is a fairly short diary that spans just over a year from the boarding of the Granma in Mexico to the final victory battle, reading to and from work and for an hour or so a night it took me a couple of days. As you would expect the diary more or less runs in chronological order, with the author adding detail retrospectively where deemed necessary, we witness all the battles he participated in and "those" moments in between that are so critical in any war. Context is usually pretty good, giving the reader enough information of the tactical relevance of each march or battle, and there is a lot of marching. As Che writes himself, a two hour battle can be retold in 3 minutes, but what comes out so expertly in this writing is the emotional toll of all aspects of their journey, from the killing to the toothaches, the despair and betrayal, to the jubilation, told first hand it gives an extra dimension to the stories you may already know.

As with Guerilla Warfare, this is an essential read for anybody wanting to truly understand Guevara's ideology and mentality, it comes though in his speech and thought, which hard as they may try is normally very difficult for a third party to portray without the actual individuals explanation (I'm not slurring biographies in this statement). Considering the length, I would also recommend this even if you are merely studying Guevara for a short essay or to get a high level overview of the man, it is not steeped in ideological or political theory so isn't particularly difficult get through, whilst being exciting enough to stop you from putting it down.

[KOMET · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reminiscences of the Cuban Revolutionary War is Ernesto “Che” Guevara’s account of his experiences as one of Fidel Castro’s chief lieutenants in his fight against the Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista for control of Cuba. This was a struggle that began in November 1956, when Castro and a number of his fellow revolutionaries sailed in choppy waters from Mexico to Cuba on a ship called the Granma. They arrived on a swampy beach with mangroves and were soon set upon by Batista’s forces. It was an uneven skirmish and it seemed likely that Castro’s efforts to liberate Cuba would be for naught. Yet, in spite of great odds, the survivors from the Granma managed to make it into the Sierra Maestra mountains, where Castro would begin, with help from other revolutionaries on the island (e.g. Frank País - who was subsequently killed by police in July 1957 - and Celia Sanchez), to build an army to effectively challenge Batista.

Guevara gives a fascinating story as to how the Cuban Revolution took shape over the next 2 years. Eventually, as Batista’s army lose ground through a series of battles with the revolutionaries, Guevara (a physician by training) is put in charge of a force that captures the key town of Santa Clara, which effectively gives the revolutionaries control of the nation and precipitates Batista fleeing by plane to the Dominican Republic on January 1, 1959.

This is a book I would recommend to anyone who wants a first-hand account as to how Fidel Castro triumphed over Batista in Cuba.

[Manuel Albaladejo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pasajes y vivencias personales del Che desde el desembarco del Granma en la playa de las Coloradas hasta la batalla final en Santa Clara. El libro muestra a un Che intimista que reconoce sus miedos e incluso su falta de destreza tanto con el fusil como con el botiquín. Para Fidel una Cuba libre de Batista es el objetivo final, mientras que para el Che Cuba no es más que el ejemplo para otros países sometidos. Quizás el aspecto más interesante que ofrece el libro, desde mi punta de vista, es la disputa interna del movimiento revolucionario entre el llano (a través de infructuosas huelgas y correrías políticas) y la sierra (a través del combate armado directo). Esas diferencias, que se acentúan con la muestra de debilidad del ejército de Batista, casi frustran el proceso revolucionario. La sierra sale fortalecida con la figura de Fidel como comandante en jefe y secretario general del movimiento en todo el país. La sierra desconfía de los revolucionarios moderados del llano al considerarlos meros espectadores agazapados esperando para asumir cargos políticos tras la salida de Batista. A través de los capítulos el Che hace un tributo a sus compañeros de lucha caídos en acción, al igual que desmerece a traidores, chivatos y desertores.

[Evelyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've always been fascinated by the cult status of Che Guevara, a man who is still held up as a symbol of hope and freedom that resonates with anyone who has felt oppressed by others around them. This book covers his diary entries from his time fighting in the Cuban Revolution and gives an honest and interesting eyewitness account of the events that unfolded. There are a lot of facts and names in each entry which can make it difficult to read at times, but I admire Che's commitment to keeping the story straight, even if it means it's not the easiest book to read. A good one to dip in and out of.

[Meteori · Rating 3 out of 5]

Poučna knjiga ukoliko se žele razumjeti južnoamerički narodi i njihova borba za slobodu.
Pisana je u formi dnevnika i to daje poseban pečat knjizi - bez uljepšavanja i sa događajima sa lica mjesta.
Nažalost, neki dijelovi nisu čitljivi (tipični doktorski rukopis koji nije mogla rastumačiti ni njegova supruga), ali i pored toga vrijedna je čitanja.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

A remarkably honest, non-hagiographic look at young people struggling against incredible odds. Their trust in their ability to improvise was one of their greatest strengths.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty impressive account although thin on the ground towards Santa Clara for anything interesting and skips over a lot of key details. The first two thirds of the book however are really excellent, very heavy with details, names, wit, woes, and brilliant pathos for the downtrodden of Oriente.

Che conveys the deep nuances of a civil conflict, and never once does he ever blame or hate a traitor or an informer, accepting that they were motivated rationally by either material conditions or the fear that Batista's capitanes could inspire in rural communities.

Lots of really funny moments, and you really get the impression that the entire revolution was almost won by the skin of its teeth at times. Here's a choice quote I really liked:

"The entire column climbed to the Turquino peak, and up there we finished the interview with Bob Taber. He was preparing a film that was later televised in the United States, at a time when we were not feared so much. (One example of this came from a peasant who joined us, who said that Casillas had offered him three hundred pesos and a pregnant cow if he would kill Fidel.) The North Americans were not the only ones who were wrong about the price of our highest commander." - Che, April 1957

[ir]

this was mostly a lengthy accounting of the specifics of the cuban revolution, sometimes boring but sometimes deeply fascinating. i found the moments between battles the most interesting as the full unglamorous and difficult side of their revolution was seen. i adored some of the beautiful and thought provoking statements che guevara would write as well. what was most fascinating was the brief accounts of the members of the 26th of july movement - they were truly humanized and reading about their struggles, hopes, imperfections, and ends was deeply moving. once again, his writings never fail to remind me that these people were revolutionaries who fought for their people and land but always human beings like all of us at the same time.

“This might have been the first time I was faced, literally, with the dilemma of choosing between my devotion to medicine and my duty as a revolutionary soldier. There, at my feet, was a backpack full of medicine and a box of ammunition. They were too heavy to carry both. I picked up the ammunition, leaving the medicine, and started to cross the clearing, heading for the cane field.”

[Malek Kriker · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit too heavy on putting as many anecdotes as possible. Obviously it does make sense since Guevara is trying to fit in as many of the “lessons” that were learnt during the Cuban revolution. So it does make sense for him to want to fit in every thing he could, especially given how traumatising being a witness to war can be. Watching your friends, good people getting killed almost everyday is going to have an effect on you. I did find it inspiring how at every point he was able to somewhat find comfort in the fact they all died for a purpose bigger than themselves. Even more so when you hear the stories of young people willing laying down their lives to protect the freedoms of their fellow humans. As far as how it’s written, it didn’t really flow as well as it could have. But then that’s to be expected when you’re reading something translated from a different language. Gonna miss reading this book, feels like it’s been with me for ages … then again that’s probably because I’m a slow reader

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Pueden tener seguridad nuestros amigos del continenete insumiso que, si es necesario, lucharemos hasta la última consecuencia económica de nuestros actos, y si se lleva aún más lejos la pelea, lucharemos hasta la última gota de nuestra sangre rebelde, para hacer de esta tierra una república soberana con los verdaderos atributos de una nación feliz, democrática y fraternal de sus hermanos de América."

Ernesto Che Guevara

[صفاء · Rating 3 out of 5]

[Big Boy Marty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Who knew that guerrilla warfare could be so monotone?

[Mats Lummie · Rating 3 out of 5]

jezus, heb hier echt heel lang over gedaan. het was wel interessant. ik wist echt heeeel weinig over de cubaanse revolutie. che guevara kan het soms wel echt leuk levendig houden, maar heel vaak is het ook heel statisch en feitelijk genoteerd, wat dus i guess wel educatief is maar niet echt lekker leest. ik heb er niet heel erg van genoten. ga hem wel net een 5.5 geven want onvoldoende voelt ook overdreven. ik ga nu eindelijk weer lekker fictie lezen hoor doe mij maar weer liefde en familiedrama enzo heeeeerlie xxxxx

[tasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

the lack of map and so many names made it so hard to read but outside of this it was really interesting to learn from such a perspective

[Muhammad Sutton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a great look into the real life of soldiers during their every day struggle to liberate their country. This book was a true eye-opener for me during my younger years, and I still enjoy reading it today. I read this book at for the first time at a very pivotal point in my life. I had been incarcerated three times in three years for sentences that went from 90 days to a year in jail. I was out on the streets making my living through ways that put my life in jeopardy every night, and I did not care. I found this book one day while looking for something to read at the book store, and when I got home, I started reading it right away.

For the next few nights, I stayed up all night reading this book. I would read some of his passages over and over again. I realized that I had truly been living my life selfishly. At this point, I began to read books like I had never read them before. I still had my nightly business in the streets. However, once I got back in the house, I picked up a book and read until my mother would get up for work. This book became the catalyst for me that propelled me out of the realm of selfish materialism to a life of improving myself to help others. If I had to choose one book during those days that set the table for the years to come, it would be this book.

Who would have thought, twenty-five years after this book changed my life, that I would have the stories that I now have to tell. Allah knows best if I would have ever lived and studied in Yemen for fifteen years if I had not read this book, and Allah knows best if I could have ever been patient through war, poverty and death if I had not read this book. Obviously, this book does not have the effect on me now that it did then because I have been blessed to read great books and gain a lot of experience, but I am still thankful for finding this gem in the book store that night.

[Adrián Sánchez · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fue al terminar de leer el libro que me di cuenta (luego de una investigación) que la película Che: El Argentino fue basada en este propio libro y es que al leerlo sentía eso, que estaba viendo la película.

El Che reporta con buen detalle la travesía que sufrió durante la revolución cubana, hace mucho énfasis en la camaradería de su tropa, la importancia que es la lucha ideológica para mantenerlos moralizados, creo que es un buen libro si se quiere conocer sobre cambio políticos independientemente de la ideología que se prefiere, me hubiese gustado que El Che hiciera más énfasis más sus pensamientos ideológicos en si ya que es algo que no se describe con mucho detalle, o como si hiciera entender al lector que ya conocemos su lucha, también me parece muy útil como recordatorio (o refrescamiento) a aquellos disfrazados de revolucionarios o quienes lo fueron en un principio y ahora se corrompieron por el poder los orígenes humildes y los objetivos de la verdadera revolución, de una revolución de izquierda, de hecho tiene un apartado llamado "Un pecado de la revolución" que me atrevo a citar su primer párrafo:

"Las revoluciones, transformaciones sociales radicales y aceleradas, hechas de las circunstancias; no siempre, o casi nunca, o quizás nunca, maduradas y previstas científicamente en sus detalles; hechas de las pasiones, de la improvisación de los hombres en su lucha por las reivindicaciones sociales, no son nunca perfectas. La nuestra tampoco lo fue. Cometió errores y algunos de esos errores se pagan caros. Hoy se nos muestra la evidencia de otro, que no ha tenido repercusión, pero que demuestra cómo es muy cierto el lenguaje popular cuando expresa una vez que “la cabra tira al monte”y otra, que “Dios los hace y ellos se juntan”."

[Kislay Verma · Rating 2 out of 5]

From Solomon Says:

RCRW is a polished version of Che Guevara’s field journal, and contains detailed accounts of the entire war against the Batista regime. It covers the events from the battle at Allegria de Pio to the fall of the dictatorship.

As a field journal, it is a plain, often dry account of the condition of the rebel army – their numbers, their supplies, and their morale. Much of the book is dedicated to tallies and lists. This being a first person account, Che does not paint the bigger picture but writes only of what he saw and heard. As a result, the view that the reader sees is one of a soldier, not that of a general.

Neither does this book deal with the political or ideological aspects of the revolution. Though Che accuses some other people of not being conversant with the revolution or not understanding the revolutionary process properly, he does not expound his understanding of the same in this book. The lack of political definition and analyses, of how Che saw the world and his place in it, are very disappointing.

The real value of RCRW is as a historical document on how a guerrilla movement is executed. Che debunks the myths of a glorious revolution with his unassuming recounting of the great problems faced by the rebels in their hiding and makes clear that the lot of the revolutionary is neither pleasant nor romantic. The sincerity of the man is evident in his writing.

[Keen Reader · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oh dear on the strength of this I think it's safe to say that Mr Guevara was clearly a far better medic and revolutionary than he was a writer or storyteller. I read "The Motorcycle Diaries" years ago and I found it an enjoyable enough read but this is something completely different.

Straight off the bat this book has a major and maddening failure in that it does not have a map of Cuba to illustrate the sites of all these obscure battles that are mentioned. I imagine most people reading this will not have an intimate and photographic memory of the island of Cuba but yet we get a glossary at the end with over twelve pages of minor and obscure characters and a background on them. A huge and frustrating failing on behalf of the publishers.

The first part shows promise in spells but then just seems to peter out and the second part descended into quite a messy affair with rambling manifestos and poor focus. Che rambles on with no real gift for writing or imagination in his re-telling of battles and hardships. I thought it really dragged kicking screaming all the way through with no real depth, feeling or emotion. It came across as cold, detached and stoic. This may have been a long and triumphant war but it is ultimately told with all the enthusiasm of someone relating a game of paintball down the pub.

[AB Freeman · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a chronicle of the events leading to Batista’s flight from Cuba on January 1, 1959, Che’s military memoir remains salient, an accurate picture of the challenges the Cuban revolutionaries, chronically undermanned and underfunded, faced throughout their campaigns in the eastern part of Cuba between 1957 and 1958.

One takeaway is the shocking realisation of the underwhelming size of their tiny guerrilla movement. In many ways, it’s a miracle the revolution succeeded. With very few combatants, and even fewer resources, the landing of the Granma on the Oriente side of the island appeared a fool’s errand, its likelihood of success nearly impossible. However, as Guevara transports the reader from battle to battle, we clearly see the growing tenacity, confidence, skill, and resources needed to overcome Batista’s troops, resulting in the Cuban Revolutionary Army’s eventual success.

3 stars. I am not a massive fan of military history; however, the details behind the campaign were useful, if only for a better historical understanding of the mountain of obstacles faced in the transformation of Cuba’s political future. An incredible story of long odds and those who rose to meet and overcome them.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great summary (but nothing more) of the revolutionary battles from Guevara's point of view. But not much elaboration of his ideology. The narrative is somewhat disjointed, and, frankly, boring at times. Che Guevara comes across as the romantic figure one might expect him to be. He is no Marx or Trotsky however. There are sparks of Leninism, but also moments of Stalinism, romanticism, adventurism and nationalism in his accounts here. The letter to Fidel requesting him not to risk his life in battle, is more akin to liberalism than revolutionary socialism (socialists would demand, on a democratic basis that Fidel cease risking his life in the name of revolution, rather than obsequiously "request" it). There is a hint of "cult of personality" here too. Che was a great leader no doubt, but an ordinary revolutionary theorist (based on this account), who learned as much as other revolutionaries did through the process of the war. This is actually one of the most valuable aspects of the diary - we can see Guevara's personal development as a revolutionary leader via the heat of Battle and revolution.

[Saeed Aj · Rating 5 out of 5]

یادداشت‌ها و خاطراتی که به‌ خوبی می‌توانند تجربیات زنده‌ی انقلاب را برای خواننده تداعی ساخته و با حماسه‌ی سی‌یرا مائسترا همراه کنند. در کنارش تماشای اقتباس سودربرگ با نام «چه» هم خالی از لطف نیست.