"A compelling fictional personage-by turns arrogant, funny, pompous, lewd, self-absorbed and self-deluding."—Michiko Kakutani, New York Times
An audacious “biography” of the ex-president of Cuba told in Castro’s own outrageous, bombastic voice. Prize-winning author and journalist Norberto Fuentes was once a revolutionary: a writer with privileged access to Fidel Castro’s inner circle during some the most challenging years of the revolution. But in the late 1990s, as the regime began sending its oldest comrades to the firing squad, he became A Man Who Knew Too Much. Escaping a death sentence and now living in exile, Fuentes has written a brilliant, satirical, and utterly captivating “autobiography” of the Cuban leader—in Fidel’s own arrogant and seductive language—discussing everything from Castro’s early sexual experiences in Birán to his true feelings about Che Guevara and his philosophy on murder, legacy, and state secrets. Critics have long admired Fuentes’s writing; one U.S. article called him “Norman Mailer’s Cuban pen pal.” Akin to Gertrude Stein’s The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas, or Edmund Morris’s Dutch, this wickedly entertaining, true-to-life masterpiece is as imaginative and outsized as Castro himself.
The Autobiography of Fidel Castro
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Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Fuentes, an old friend of Fidel Castro who escaped a death sentence in 1990s Cuba and now lives in exile in Florida, delivers a clever, ballsy and colorful faux autobiography of the Communist icon. With this book, Fuentes-as-Castro writes, I am not trying to reject anything or defend myself, but to leave behind an interpretation from my own hands, or rather, from my own mouth, of the events in which I am the protagonist. Castro comes across as megalomaniacal and charming, his hilarious bravado a perfect complement to a profoundly unreliable narrator. Castro reflects on everything from the murder of his first political rival and his campaign against Batista to the Bay of Pigs and the missile crisis to the almost present day. Though peppered with gossipy asides, the story remains strong, mostly linear and always captivating. Fuentes tells Castro's story without questioning himself, and is so convincing that readers may forget this is fiction. (Dec.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
From Booklist
Considering the magnitude of his ego, it is surprising that Castro has written remarkably little about himself; perhaps it is an effort to maintain the mystique of the “maximum leader.” What is known about Castro’s personality and personal life has been gleaned from his interminable public performances and revelations from former associates. So Fuentes, a former “close friend” of Castro until he fell out of favor and was forced into exile, has written a faux autobiography that still manages to seem credible. Followers of Castro’s career won’t be surprised by Fuentes’ portrayal. The self absorption, the arrogance, the razor-sharp intelligence, and the cynicism are all on display. What makes this account particularly appealing is Castro’s (or Fuentes’) version of critical events and his relations with and feelings concerning historical figures. Here, Castro reveals his views devoid of the usual Marxist cant and speaks as a ruthless politician concerned above all with his maintenance of power. His attitude toward other icons of the Cuban Revolution, particularly Che Guevara, is cold and unsentimental. Of course, this isn’t history, but it is enjoyable, interesting, and probably as accurate a portrait as we are likely to get. --Jay Freeman
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I've been living in Cuba for over a decade and I'm trying to read all things on anything Cuba. Obviously, Fidel Castro himself could not be an exception.
This book was a massive disappointment. Knowing that the author used to be a close associate of the Castro brothers, I had high expectations, especially after all the promotional large talk. Unfortunately, the book turned out to be a fluke.
The author speaks in first person, pretending to be Fidel Castro himself, which is why the book is called an "autobiography". In his effort to show how the author thinks that Castro thinks, he... "forgets" to provide any sort of sources. Fidel appears to be everything imaginable: a sadist, an almost rapist, a murderer (of a famous case of which the culprit we know know), an ignorant, we learn about his manhood size (!!), of what an impotent father, friend, administrator, boss, drinker, author he is. Sources? None! "People don't have to provide sources when writing their autobiography". Well yeah, except for this is NOT an AUTObiography...
There's little unknown fact about Castro in the book. New facts, you won't get. In fact, you won't get any facts at all. Fiction? You bet!
For a really good and balanced biography on Castro, I suggest you read Volker Skrieka's. True facts with bookloads of sources and testimonies, not sci-fi.
This book was a massive disappointment. Knowing that the author used to be a close associate of the Castro brothers, I had high expectations, especially after all the promotional large talk. Unfortunately, the book turned out to be a fluke.
The author speaks in first person, pretending to be Fidel Castro himself, which is why the book is called an "autobiography". In his effort to show how the author thinks that Castro thinks, he... "forgets" to provide any sort of sources. Fidel appears to be everything imaginable: a sadist, an almost rapist, a murderer (of a famous case of which the culprit we know know), an ignorant, we learn about his manhood size (!!), of what an impotent father, friend, administrator, boss, drinker, author he is. Sources? None! "People don't have to provide sources when writing their autobiography". Well yeah, except for this is NOT an AUTObiography...
There's little unknown fact about Castro in the book. New facts, you won't get. In fact, you won't get any facts at all. Fiction? You bet!
For a really good and balanced biography on Castro, I suggest you read Volker Skrieka's. True facts with bookloads of sources and testimonies, not sci-fi.
5 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By moviefanatic
Format:Hardcover
A highly entertaining book. Eye opening and quite readable. A great book for the layman on the subject of the Cuban Revolution and Castro. Uummmmmm, hope there isn't a reason I'm the only reviewer! ?
4 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By M. aquino
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
norberto fuentes becomes Fidel and explains as a matter of fact his actions during the revolution. As a supreme leader he is not contratite or apologize, on te contrary everything was done to achive the revolution. Morality, concience or compassion belongs to the bourgoise and are to be ignored for his revoltion and communism The style is slightly satirical and he does not mince words to tell of his (Castro) atrocities. Numerous anecdotes appear vey real but hard to believe because of their total disregard for the lives of the common individual.Norberto was a very close of Castro and provides a vivid imagery of the cruelty that comes from absolute power.He was finally allowed to leave for Miami Perhaps the real tragedy of these kind, friendy an charismatic people of Cuba was having to scape their enchanting island with their fascinating afromerican-spaniard culture and traditions.Once again reality supersedes fiction. Fascinating.
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