Winner of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize in History “Full of…lively insights and lucid prose” (The Wall Street Journal) an epic, sweeping history of Cuba and its complex ties to the United States—from before the arrival of Columbus to the present day—written by one of the world’s leading historians of Cuba.In 1961, at the height of the Cold War, the United States severed diplomatic relations with Cuba, where a momentous revolution had taken power three years earlier. For more than half a century, the stand-off continued—through the tenure of ten American presidents and the fifty-year rule of Fidel Castro. His death in 2016, and the retirement of his brother and successor Raúl Castro in 2021, have spurred questions about the country’s future. Meanwhile, politics in Washington—Barack Obama’s opening to the island, Donald Trump’s reversal of that policy, and the election of Joe Biden—have made the relationship between the two nations a subject of debate once more. Now, award-winning historian Ada Ferrer delivers an “important” (The Guardian) and moving chronicle that demands a new reckoning with both the island’s past and its relationship with the United States. Spanning more than five centuries, Cuba: An American History provides us with a front-row seat as we witness the evolution of the modern nation, with its dramatic record of conquest and colonization, of slavery and freedom, of independence and revolutions made and unmade. Along the way, Ferrer explores the sometimes surprising, often troubled intimacy between the two countries, documenting not only the influence of the United States on Cuba but also the many ways the island has been a recurring presence in US affairs. This is a story that will give Americans unexpected insights into the history of their own nation and, in so doing, help them imagine a new relationship with Cuba; “readers will close [this] fascinating book with a sense of hope” (The Economist). Filled with rousing stories and characters, and drawing on more than thirty years of research in Cuba, Spain, and the United States—as well as the author’s own extensive travel to the island over the same period—this is a stunning and monumental account like no other. Read more

Harley-Davidson bikers • Grand Canyon river rats • Mormon archaeologists • Spelling bee prodigies • For more than fifteen years, the bestselling, award-winning author of Blood and Thunder and Ghost Soldiers has traveled widely across the continent exploring the America that lurks just behind the scrim of our mainstream culture. This sparkling mosaic of our country, in all its wild and poignant charm, “may be the best road trip you’ll ever take—full of strange vision, hilarious detours, and sudden beauty in unlikely places” (The New Yorker). Reporting for Outside, The New Yorker, and NPR, among other national media, the award-winning journalist has established a reputation not only as a wry observer of the contemporary American scene but also as one of our more inventive and versatile practitioners of narrative non-fiction. In these two dozen pieces, collected here for the first time, Sides gives us a fresh, alluring, and at times startling America brimming with fascinating subcultures and bizarre characters who could live nowhere else. Following Sides, we crash the redwood retreat of an apparent cabal of fabulously powerful military-industrialists, drop in on the Indy 500 of bass fishing, and join a giant techno-rave at the lip of the Grand Canyon. We meet a diverse gallery of American visionaries— from the impossibly perky founder of Tupperware to Indian radical Russell Means to skateboarding legend Tony Hawk. We retrace the route of the historic Bataan Death March with veterans from Sides’ acclaimed WWII epic, Ghost Soldiers. Sides also examines the nation that has emerged from the ashes of September 11, recounting the harrowing journeys of three World Trade Center survivors and deciding at the last possible minute not to "embed" on the Iraqi front-lines with the U.S. Marines. Read more

An NPR Books We Love selection for 2023"An unforgettable read that should be at the top of every TBR list."—NPRIn 1934, a luxury cruise becomes a fight for survival as two women’s pasts collide on a round-trip voyage from New York to Havana in New York Times bestselling author Chanel Cleeton's page-turning new novel inspired by the true story of the SS Morro Castle. New York heiress Catherine Dohan seemingly has it all. There’s only one problem. It’s a lie. As soon as the Morro Castle leaves port, Catherine’s past returns with a vengeance and threatens her life. Joining forces with a charismatic jewel thief, Catherine must discover who wants her dead—and why. Elena Palacio is a dead woman. Or so everyone thinks. After a devastating betrayal left her penniless and on the run, Elena’s journey on the Morro Castle is her last hope. Steeped in secrecy and a burning desire for revenge, her return to Havana is a chance to right the wrong that has been done to her—and her prey is on the ship. As danger swirls aboard the Morro Castle and their fates intertwine, Elena and Catherine must risk everything to see justice served once and for all. Read more

Cardenal, In Cuba. The Nicaraguan Poet-Priest muses over Cuba Read more

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Lonely Planet’sCuba is your passport to the most relevant, up-to-date advice on what to see and skip, and what hidden discoveries await you. Enjoy the live music scene in Havana, explore historic Habana Vieja, and trek up Pico Turquino; all with your trusted travel companion. Get to the heart of Cuba and begin your journey now! Inside Lonely Planet’sCuba Travel Guide: Up-to-date information - all businesses were rechecked before publication to ensure they are still open after 2020’s COVID-19 outbreakNEW top experiences feature - a visually inspiring collection of Cuba’s best experiences and where to have them What's NEW feature taps into cultural trends and helps you find fresh ideas and cool new areas NEW pull-out, passport-size 'Just Landed' card with wi-fi, ATM and transport info - all you need for a smooth journey from airport to hotelColor maps and images throughoutHighlightsand itineraries help you tailor your trip to your personal needs and interestsInsider tips to save time and money and get around like a local, avoiding crowds and trouble spotsEssential infoat your fingertips - hours of operation, websites, transit tips, pricesHonest reviews for all budgets - eating, sleeping, sightseeing, going out, shopping, hidden gems that most guidebooks missCultural insights give you a richer, more rewarding travel experience - history, people, music, landscapes, wildlife, cuisine, politicsOver 80 maps Covers Havana, Artemisa, Mayabeque, Isla de la Juventud, Valle de Vinales & Pinar del Rio Province, Varadero & Matanzas Province, Cienfuegos, Villa Clara, Trinidad & Sancti Spiritus, Ciego de Avila, Cameguey, Las Tunas, Holguin, Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantanamo The Perfect Choice: Lonely Planet’sCuba, our most comprehensive guide to Cuba, is perfect for both exploring top sights and taking roads less traveled. Looking for just the highlights? Check out Pocket Havana, a handy-sized guide focused on the can't-miss sights for a quick trip. About Lonely Planet: Lonely Planet is a leading travel media company, providing both inspiring and trustworthy information for every kind of traveler since 1973. Over the past four decades, we've printed over 145 million guidebooks and phrasebooks for 120 languages, and grown a dedicated, passionate global community of travelers. You'll also find our content online, and in mobile apps, videos, 14 languages, armchair and lifestyle books, ebooks, and more, enabling you to explore every day.  'Lonely Planet guides are, quite simply, like no other.' – New York Times 'Lonely Planet. It's on everyone's bookshelves; it's in every traveler's hands. It's on mobile phones. It's on the Internet. It's everywhere, and it's telling entire generations of people how to travel the world.' – Fairfax Media (Australia) Read more

Un fascinante paseo por La Habana con un guía de lujo, el propio Leonardo Padura. Los buenos novelistas siempre cuentan en sus historias con un personaje que acaba siendo tan importante como el protagonista: la ciudad donde trascurren los hechos. Por eso no hay mejor guía para conocer La Habana que Leonardo Padura, el autor que mejor le ha tomado el pulso, a lo largo de diferentes épocas, en cada una de sus novelas. Este libro ofrece un paseo por los barrios de La Habana en forma de historia autobiográfica del propio novelista, que va desde Mantilla hasta los diferentes barrios de la ciudad. Y en cada uno de ellos, su historia se complementa con los fragmentos de las novelas donde aparecen. A la vez, en una segunda parte, se reúnen varios reportajes sobre los aspectos más sorprendentes y desconocido de su historia. No es difícil ver en muchos de ellos el embrión de los casos de Mario Conde, o el pasado evocado en tantas novelas de Padura, que nos hace vivir la ciudad, y viajar en el tiempo.ENGLISH DESCRIPTIONA fascinating tour of Havana with a luxury guide, Leonardo Padura himself. Good novelists always include a character that becomes as important as the protagonist: the city where the events take place. That’s why there’s no better guide to Havana than Leonardo Padura, the author who has captured its essence across different eras in each of his novels. This book offers a tour through the neighborhoods of Havana in the form of an autobiographical story by the novelist himself, ranging from Mantilla to the various neighborhoods of the city. In each of them, his story is complemented by excerpts from the novels where they appear. Additionally, in a second part, several reports on the most surprising and unknown aspects of its history are gathered. It’s not hard to see in many of them the seeds of Mario Conde’s cases, or the past evoked in so many of Padura’s novels, which make us experience the city and travel through time. Read more

The perfect introduction to Cuba, for those who can’t resist the island’s charm. At a time when more travelers are discovering or rediscovering Cuba, this book is an in-depth exploration of 101 of the most authentic and compelling sites that reveal the real Cuba. Caribbean antiques expert, art historian, and adventurer Michael Connors presents the breadth of this island’s most intriguing destinations and architectural treasures. The book features iconic places such as the tobacco plantations in Pinar del Río, the fortresses and palacios, Hemingway’s home outside of Havana, Xanadu (the DuPont mansion), the old French Triolet Pharmacy in Matanzas, and the Sugar Mill Valley in Sancti Spíritus. The lush photographs were shot exclusively for this book, bringing each location and treasure alive. It is a traveler’s mantra these days: see Cuba before it loses its 1950s nostalgia and turns into a tourist trap. Whether you are planning a trip or dreaming of faraway places from the comfort of your living room, this volume is more than a reference book, it is an insider’s guide to the heart and soul of exquisite, nostalgic, and always fascinating Cuba. Read more

Old Cuba presents an insider’s view of the splendid colonial-era sites of the storied island nation, from the grand apartments and magnificent cathedral of Old Havana to the plantation homes of Pinar del Río.   Cuba dominates the entrance to the Gulf of Mexico, fixed between the great continents to the north and to the south, and has long served as a bridge between the Old World and the New. First visited by Christopher Columbus in 1492, its history of interaction with the Old World of Europe is among the longest in the Americas, and its architecture bears testament to this: Cuba is home to some of the most ancient cities and towns in the western hemisphere. As a result, the country once known as the “pearl of the Antilles,” stands now as a treasure chest of alluring historic architecture—seasoned by European precedents mixed with colonial and Caribbean spice—and boasts an extraordinary number of UNESCO Cultural Heritage sites, from the historic center of Old Havana with its original city walls and the Castillo de la Real Fuerza—the oldest extant colonial fortress in the Americas—to the sixteenth-century city of Trinidad, within the central Cuban province of Sancti Spíritus, recognized by historians and scholars as a triumph of historic preservation and whose maze of pastel mansions and churches forms one of the best collections of colonial architecture to be found anywhere.   From Old Havana to Santiago de Cuba, Old Cuba offers an intimate look at the historic architecture— the houses, apartments, monuments, charming public spaces, and centuries-old churches—of this storied country. Read more

Embrace the Rhythm of Cuba: Immerse yourself in vibrant cities, pristine beaches, and timeless culture. This guide unlocks Cuba's magic, from hidden alleyways to breathtaking landscapes. Forget tourist traps, this book is your key to authentic experiences.More Than Just a Vacation: Discover the soul of Cuba with insider tips and local gems. This guide empowers you to connect with people, savor flavors, and create memories that last a lifetime. Go beyond the ordinary, explore the extraordinary.Adventure Awaits: Unleash your inner explorer with this immersive guide. Discover secret waterfalls, vibrant art scenes, and captivating history. This book is your passport to unforgettable experiences in Cuba.including: Cuba’s Top Attractions and Outdoor ActivitiesItinerariesCuba MapRegional guidesAnd so much more!What are you waiting for? Scroll up NOW & HIT THE BUY BUTTONS!!! Read more

On September 20, 1998, Jose Vigoa, a child of Fidel Castro’s revolution, launched what would be the most audacious and ruthless series of high-profile casino and armored car robberies that Las Vegas had ever seen. In a brazen sixteen-month reign of terror, he and his crew would hit the crème de la crème of Vegas hotels: the MGM, the Desert Inn, the New York—New York, the Mandalay Bay, and the Bellagio. The robberies were well planned and executed, and the police–“the stupids,” as Vigoa contemptuously referred to them–were all but helpless to stop them. But Lt. John Alamshaw, the twenty-three-year veteran in charge of robbery detectives, was not giving up so easily. For him, Vigoa’s rampage was a personal affront. And he would do whatever it took, even risk his badge, to bring Vigoa down. Read more

Introducing Volume 3: Havana. Our third issue takes us to Havana, as we share thermoses of scarce coffee stretched with powdered peas, tinker with Italian espresso machines in disrepair, meet a band that performs alongside the sound of grinding beans, and get familiar with international power players itching to break into a coffee-growing, coffee-guzzling country on the brink of change. Volume 3 is about what it s like to drink coffee in Havana, past and present, a palm tree-packed tropical city with as much gusto as the coffee it offers. Read more

A young transvestite found strangled in a Havana park. The stifling death of a beloved Cuba. Read more

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Havana Then and Now explores the history of Cuba’s fascinating capital city through vintage photographs, comparing each one with a contemporary image of the same vista.All the major buildings of Havana’s rich architectural and cultural heritage are represented, including Old Havana and its fortifications, a UNESCO World Heritage site.Author Llilian Llanes has witnessed much political change in her lifetime. Previously married to Fidel Castro’s first finance minister, she has been one of the principal artistic influences on the nation, maintaining contacts with other countries through cultural exchanges.Havana Then and Now is a revision of the book she first wrote in 2003. It includes the buildings of state, the Spanish influences of the nineteenth century, the ancient churches, old public squares and shopping streets shaded by giant awnings.Sites include: Castillo del Morro, Fortaleza de San Carlos, Wreck of the Maine, the Malecon, Paseo del Prado, Plaza de San Francisco, Muelle de Luz, Avenida del Puerto, Plaza de Armas, Calle Obispo, Calle O’Reilly, Barrio Chino, Tacon Market, Parque Central, Hotel Inglaterra, Hotel Plaza, Teatro Tacon, Teatro Payret, Campo de Marte, Capitolo Nacional, Presidential Palace, Columbus Cemtery, Monument of the Medical Students, University of Havana and Ernest Hemingway’s house. Read more

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From the leading photographer of Cuba, A Taste of Cuba is a stunning culinary and visual journey through Cuba that presents 75 authentic, never-before-shared recipes from the world’s most inventive chefs. In a country shrouded in secrecy, a mouthwatering, but little-known food scene thrives. A Taste of Cuba offers unprecedented access into the kitchens of Cuba’s top chefs, where the country’s most delectable dishes are created and where the chefs share for the very first time, their brilliant techniques, inspiration, and best recipes.Renowned Cuba photographer Cynthia Carris Alonso and her Cuban husband, José Luis Alonso, take you with them on their ride through Havana and around the country, as they stop in Cuba’s twenty top paladares—private, family owned establishments. Inside you’ll see how Cuban chefs are world-class, resourceful, and inventive, adapting their dishes based on the changing ingredients available on the market. Between visits with the chefs, you’ll walk the streets of Cuba, experiencing its vibrant, colorful culture and seeing its lush landscapes up close.A Taste of Cuba offers seventy-five original recipes supplied by Cuba’s top chefs, tested and translated for an American kitchen by chef Valerie Feigen, allowing you to make staples such as ropa vieja, frijoles negros, and maduros—stewed beef, black beans, and sweet plantains—as well as for more elaborate dishes, such as eggplant caviar, fish tacos, and ham croquettes. It shares the recipe for La Cocina de Lilliam’s life-changing bread, sweets such as dreamy alfajores con dulce de leche, Cuba’s famous coffees, mojitos, and juices, and Ernest Hemingway’s papa doble daiquiri of legend. Read more

Cuba is a land of contradictions that is easy to enjoy but difficult for first-time visitors to decipher. The largest island in the Caribbean, it is a tropical paradise that Christopher Columbus called “the most beautiful land that human eyes have ever seen.” It is famous for the romantic charm of its crumbling colonial cities, the beauty of its white sand beaches, and its irresistible Afro-Cuban dance beats. But it is also a land of shortages and tight government control, which has been in a sixty-year political standoff with its superpower neighbor, the USA. The homegrown version of single-party socialism created by Fidel Castro has kept Cuba in a Cold War time warp that only now is beginning to change. As travel restrictions are relaxed US tourists can once again visit the island. Greater flexibility toward private enterprise is opening it up to boutique hotels and high-quality home-based restaurants. There is a boom in special-interest tourism for cyclists, hikers, birdwatchers, and scuba divers, while foreign entrepreneurs are eagerly exploring investment opportunities. Culture Smart! Cuba will take you beyond the usual descriptions of Havana nightlife, vintage cars, and hand-rolled cigars and give you an insider’s view of an island that is teetering on the brink of historic change. It offers insights into Cuba's fascinating history, national icons, unique food, vibrant cultural scene, and world-renowned music. Practical tips help business travelers gain an edge on the competition. But most of all, this book aims to show you how best to break the ice and get a better understanding of the infinitely resourceful Cuban people, who despite severe hardships and shortages over many years remain optimistic and fiercely proud of their heritage and culture. Read more

Traveling to Cuba? Do you have friends from the island? Get the insider's guide to decode 120+ Cuban Spanish slang words and expressions. A bilingual guide (Spanish and English) with examples of the words used in context. Don't step foot in Havana or Miami without this book! Read more

When my grandson unwrapped this book, he saw the little note I stuck on the cover. The note said, “Go to page 4 and read the last sentence”.Page 4 was a list of words and phrases for youngsters wanting to learn some Spanish. The last line of the page says: !Me voy a Cuba! (meh voy a Koo-bah) = I’m going to Cuba!He looked up at me, eyes wide open, then said, “Is it true? Am I really going to Cuba?”. I smiled and nodded. Then I told him he better get reading the book if he wanted to learn all he could before we leave on our big adventure.Learn About Cuba for Kids is written for ages 8 – 12 and packed with interesting facts accompanied by beautiful photographs and some fun cartoons. In it, they’ll learn:- Culture- Language- History- Food- Games- Animals- Places of interest- And so much more!Written in a way that explains Cuba, including its politics, and is easy enough for a child to understand. It shows Cuba as a vibrant and beautiful place many people love visiting.If you plan on visiting Cuba, have family roots there, or want to learn about this beautiful Caribbean island, then Learn About Cuba For Kids is the best start. Your kids will learn so much; I promise you’ll learn something new too. Read more