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Fidel Castro and Ignacio Ramonet
My Life
Allen Lane, 2007
What's inside?
Everyone has an opinion on revolutionary icon Fidel Castro. Learn what he thinks about himself and his place in history.
Recommendation
The United States has had 10 presidents since Fidel Castro became Cuba’s prime minister in 1959. From Eisenhower, who refused to meet with him, to Kennedy, whose CIA wanted to kill him, to Clinton, who tried to ignore him, Castro outlasted them all. He had amazing longevity, given what he dished out to his people and what he dealt with, from the Bay of Pigs attack to the Cuban missile crisis, a 50-year trade embargo, and hundreds of attempts on his life by the CIA, the Mafia, Cuban exiles and island dissidents. These ordeals involved all kinds of odd weapons, such as a poisoned diving suit, a seashell bomb and an exploding cigar. Cruel and charismatic, Castro exhibited remarkable staying power, having impoverished, exiled, jailed, tortured or killed most of his opponents over the decades. Finally, given serious illness, he resigned and turned the government over to his brother Raúl. Even though Fidel is frail and old, he once seemed as indestructible as the mountains of Sierra Maestra, where he began his revolutionary struggle. If you want to know what makes Fidel tick, getAbstract suggests this autobiography, developed and edited by Spanish journalist Ignacio Ramonet from 100 hours of recorded interviews with Castro. This fascinating, in-depth book voices Castro’s intriguing story. However, given that it reflects Castro’s unleavened perceptions, its facts and interpretations may be open to question. Even while finding Fidel’s viewpoint compelling, many would strongly disagree with the dictator’s self-laudatory tone. Memory is longer than that.
About the Authors
Fidel Castro is the president of Cuba. Ignacio Ramonet is a Spanish journalist. Since 1991, he has been the editor-in-chief of a monthly magazine, Le Monde Diplomatique.
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