Cuba is much more than cigars, classic automobiles, and Castro. This remarkable nation has had a long history of relations with larger political powers that were drawn to the island because of its valuable resources and strategic location. Ties between Cuba and the United States have been strong since the mid-nineteenth century, and the theme of U.S. dominance over the island and its people is a primary historical perspective. Cuba's history is told in eight chronological chapters, from its earliest days as a Spanish colony, through its wars for independence and the U.S. occupation in the twentieth century to Batista, the Cold War, and the so-called "Special Period," when Cuba faced the crisis of the downfall of the Soviet Union. With special emphasis on the twentieth century, the Castro era, and U.S.-Cuba relations, this is the most accessible and current history of Cuba available.
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Editorial Reviews
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"Staten has accomplished much with this book. He has successfully condensed Cuba's convoluted past and present into a concise, readable history that still retains sufficient detail to be intellectually useful. His insight into the respective motivations of both Cuban and U.S. actors is especially poignant. This book is highly recommended for anyone seeking to understand the most misunderstood country in the Americas and its love-hate relationship with the United States."--Robert C. Harding, Lynchburg College
About the Author
Clifford L. Staten is professor of political science at Indiana University. He is a noted authority on Cuba, and has written many journal and magazine articles on Cuban history, culture, and politics as well as contributing to travel guides.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Short and Sweet,
By Fenchurch (New York, NY) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The History of Cuba (Palgrave Essential Histories) (Paperback)
I walked into this book knowing virtually nothing about Cuba, and this book did an excellent job of providing a short overview of modern Cuba. The history begins with the war for independence from Spain, and proceeds through all of the revolutionary movements, through to Castro's takeover, the Soviet relationship with Cuba, and Castro's changing policies. I found it very enlightening, a quick read, and well worth an afternoon! I would have given it a higher rating if it had more unique information, but it keeps the readers interest, and gives a reasonable overview of the politics and economics of the country.
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good background info on Cuban history,
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This review is from: The History of Cuba (Palgrave Essential Histories) (Paperback)
Good background review of Cuban history, though a little too heavy on micro-details. Still, very useful introduction in preparation for further study.
0 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
CUBA,
By mjmria (Wayne, NJ, US) - See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: The History of Cuba (Palgrave Essential Histories) (Paperback)
Gave me information I never knew about a country that so many know so little of.
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Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
When Americans hear the word "Cuba," many thoughts, sounds and images come to mind: the U.S. embargo, a bearded Fidel Castro in army fatigues, the song "Guantanamera," Teddy Roosevelt and the Rough Riders, Ernest Hemingway, mojitos, classic automobiles, the missile crisis, the Bay of Pigs, cigars, rum, sugar cane, the mafia, gambling, I Love Lucy, the Malecon, raft people braving the shark-infested waters of the Straits of Florida, Little Havana and many others. Read the first page Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
United States, Soviet Union, Latin America, Cold War, New York, Special Period, Pursuit of Freedom, Liberal Party, July Movement, University of Havana, Fidel Castro, Hugh Thomas, Bay of Pigs, Cuba Libre, New World, Sierra Maestra, Cuban American, Cuban Creoles, North American, Platt Amendment, Autentico Party, Oriente Province, President Bush, General Wood, Isle of Pines New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Surprise Me!
When Americans hear the word "Cuba," many thoughts, sounds and images come to mind: the U.S. embargo, a bearded Fidel Castro in army fatigues, the song "Guantanamera," Teddy Roosevelt and the Rough Riders, Ernest Hemingway, mojitos, classic automobiles, the missile crisis, the Bay of Pigs, cigars, rum, sugar cane, the mafia, gambling, I Love Lucy, the Malecon, raft people braving the shark-infested waters of the Straits of Florida, Little Havana and many others. Read the first page Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
United States, Soviet Union, Latin America, Cold War, New York, Special Period, Pursuit of Freedom, Liberal Party, July Movement, University of Havana, Fidel Castro, Hugh Thomas, Bay of Pigs, Cuba Libre, New World, Sierra Maestra, Cuban American, Cuban Creoles, North American, Platt Amendment, Autentico Party, Oriente Province, President Bush, General Wood, Isle of Pines New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 25
books:
See all 25 books this book cites
8
books
cite this book:
See all 8 books citing this book
- Cuba: From Columbus to Castro by Jaime Suchlicki on 4 pages
- A History of Latin America by Benjamin Keen on page 70, page 123, and page 140
- Back From the Future: Cuba Under Castro by Susan Eva Eckstein on page 107, page 123, and Back Matter
- History Will Absolve Me by Fidel Castro on page 75, and page 76
- The Cold War (Cambridge Perspectives in History) by Mike Sewell on page 124, and Back Matter
See all 25 books this book cites
- The History of the Baltic States (The Greenwood Histories of the Modern Nations) by Kevin C. O'Connor in Back Matter
- The History of Iraq (The Greenwood Histories of the Modern Nations) by Courtney Hunt in Back Matter
- The History of Egypt (The Greenwood Histories of the Modern Nations) by Glenn Perry in Back Matter
- The Governors of Indiana: A Biographical Directory by Linda C. Gugin in Front Matter
- The History of Ghana (The Greenwood Histories of the Modern Nations) by Roger S. Gocking in Back Matter
See all 8 books citing this book
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