Fidel:: A Critical Portrait

Buy Fidel:: A Critical Portrait here, one of 750 Cuba History books offered for sale at discount prices here in the history books section at R bookshop. There are currently 73275 history books in our history books section, and over 1,000,000 books listed in our book store. We greatly appreciate your patronage at R bookshop and look forward to offering you a large selection of great books at discount prices now and in the future. Thank you for shopping at R Bookshop!

You Are Here: Home > History Books > Cuba History > Item 182

	Fidel:: A Critical Portrait
	by Tad Szulc Sales Rank: 558110	~~List Price: $18.95~~ $12.89 At Amazon on 6-19-2008.

*Features* Cover Type: Paperback with 704 pages Published by: Harper Perennial; Reprint edition February 8, 2000 Written in: English ISBN 10 Number: 0380808889 ISBN 13 Number: 978-0380808885 Book Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.2 x 1.2 inches Weighs: 1.2 pounds *From Publishers Weekly* With Castro's cooperation (which included many hours of taped conversation), interviews with scores of his friends and associates, and access to Cuban archives, this former New York Times foreign correspondent has produced the first major biography of one of the most puzzling and little-known world leaders of our day. Material includes an analysis of Castro's relationship with the Cuban Communist Party before the revolution, details on the CIA's initial support and later assassination attempts, and convincing suggestions on how the Bay of Pigs affair led directly to the Cuban missile crisis. The author characterizes the Cuban revolution of the 1960s as "to a very large degree the story of Fidel Castro's and John Kennedy's impact on each other." Szulc's admiration for the Cuban leader is vast: Castro is "a virtuoso of politics" and "a master of strategy and tactics as well as a master of timing." So rich is the material Szulc marshalls in his support that readers less enamored of Castro will find it hard to deny these and other sweeping statements. Photos. 100,000 first printing. Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title. *From Library Journal* Long-time Latin Americanist and journalist Szulc offers a welcome, clearly written full-length portrait of one of the world's most enigmatic leaders. The book is meticulously researched, with Castro himself providing access to much unpublished data. The author develops the thesis that Castro, since his teenage years, has been a mercurial, explosive, and fanatical personality, a theme sustained throughout. Happily, Szulc presents a balanced interpretation, but at times one wishes that there were fewer characters in the narrative and that more attention had been paid to internal, domestic policies. On the other hand, the author provides the reader with an great sense of Castro's complex foreign relations. Highly recommended for most libraries. Robert A. Camp, Latin American Studies Dept., Central Coll., Pella, Ia. Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title. *Reader Reviews* I first read this book over ten years ago, but have yet to find a better biography of Fidel Castro. The author, Tad Szulc, has known Fidel since 1959, when he covered the Cuban Revolution for the New York Times. He was given unprecedented access by the Cuban government, and by Castro personally, to conduct his research for this book. Szulc also interviewed countless people, both in Cuba and in the U.S., including friends, former friends, lifelong enemies, and acquaintances of the Cuban leader. The result is a fascinating and remarkably balanced look at the life of one of the world's most controversial statesmen. The author has succeeded in giving us a three-dimensional view of Castro, both as a man and as a leader. One story of his youth that still stands out in my mind is how, while driving a tractor on his father's plantation, he attempted to rally the other field hands in order to demand better working conditions! There are many interesting and humorous anecdotes such as this throughout the entire book. It was a pleasure to read, overall, and did a great job of transporting me back to the places and times of Fidel's tumultuous life. I only gave it four stars because it is somewhat dated, having been written in 1985. I wish it could have been updated to include Fidel's continued survival, against nearly all predictions, after the loss of his Soviet ally. However, a definitive biography of Castro will have to wait until after his retirement, and its judgement of him will hinge on Cuba's ability to remain a communist island in a capitalist sea. Comment \| \| (Report this) Back To Top
Fidel:: A Critical Portrait Available from Amazon Price: $12.89 Updated on 6-19-2008.

NOTICE: All prices, availability, and specifications
are subject to verification by their respective retailers.

We offer Fidel:: A Critical Portrait and other related Cuba History Books here at Rbookshop.com. To view more books about Cuba History please use the previous and next buttons near the top of this page.