Cuba (Winner of the Pulitzer Prize)

An American History

By: Ada Ferrer

Narrated by: Alma Cuervo, Ada Ferrer - prologue

Length: 23 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's summary

WINNER OF THE PULITZER PRIZE IN HISTORY

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.

©2021 Ada Ferrer. All rights reserved. (P)2021 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved.

Critic reviews

"[Alma Cuervo]'s a highly empathetic interpreter of Ferrer's narrative. The story is fascinating, enlightening, and often deeply moving as Cuervo recounts Cuba's sorry history of racial division, enslavement, and exploitation - most vividly, the crushing labor of its sugar plantations." (AudioFile Magazine)

Relevant, fascinating, and important

This is a must read for anyone -and that should be most Americans-to understand the sweeping and complicated history of Cuba and in particular, her relationship to the United States. If we are to have peace and moral comfort, we must revisit Obama’s opening of Cuba and repudiate the greed and jealousy of the Trump years as well as the dreadful policies, which have taken different forms since Columbus first landed in 1492. I found this history well written, compelling, and of course, filled with events and insights I never had presented though 18 years of “formal” education. Read it!!

Large in scope

I feel that I lack knowledge of so many people and places, and because of a work of fiction showed me that I needed to learn about Cuba, I chose this book.

The all-encompassing scope of Cuba: An American History by Ada Ferrer means that I had trouble remembering all I heard on my Audible copy. Unable to page back, I used Wikipedia to help me, and as my recall showed more holes, I gave up, and learned what I could. Also difficult with a non-fiction audio book , is mishearing some names or words. it makes it even more difficult to research a topic. Some thingsI gave up on.

OK, those were the drawbacks. Now on to what I liked about the book.: My head is reeling with new information. I need more, and I do have another Cuba book to read. With the author's intent to give an in-depth report, I believe I better understand the history of Cuba and the US relationship with that country. My main takeaway is that first Spain, then the US, ruined any chance of having a good relationship with Cuba. Skipping Spain's injustices from the very beginning of outside interference, and only addressing the US-Cuban relationship, we were - and still are - thinking of ourselves. We insisted on dominating every decision made by Cuba until Fidel Castro assumed power, then we sought only to undercut that new nation. We made continued mistakes, showing the world that we have only bad intentions. The information about the Platt Amendment was eye-opening, such arrogance!

The Bay of Pigs Invasion and the Cuban Missle Crisis happened in my lifetime. I was between 8 and 11 years old. I only recall the feeling of fear pervasive at the time of the missile crisis, but nothing more. I was raised to hate anything the Soviet Union did, and to say anti-Russian style prayers. I did not know any history.

My classes in history in high school reached WWII, but only at the end of the school year. By then I lost interest in any US history classes. Memorization does not teach. I feel cheated. I had no idea that the Bay of Pigs Invasion was OUR FAULT! I didn't even know enough to question this! I'm ashamed! What a terrible thing we did. Just as we have done or tried to do in any country we decided needed to do things our way. Knowing this, I cannot applaud any time a covert operation takes down another member of the opposition. Sorry if that offends you.

I recommend this book highly, and know I need to continue my studies.

Highly Informative, But Worshipful of Castro

I learned a great deal about Cuba from this book and found its history fascination. After the very even-keeled description of Cuba’s history from Columbus to the ouster of the Spaniards, I was surprised by how rapturous Prof. Ferrer became over the dictator Castro and Cuba’s invasion of Angola. The USA is historically at fault for many of Cuba’s struggles, but the country’s fervent attachment to “strong men” has done it little favors.

Fascinating

I learned so much. The history of our two countries has been deeply entwined since Christopher Columbus set foot on Cuba to the present. Now I have some understanding of how and why!

Learned a perspective

Easy to follow, methodical history of Cuba from Columbus to President Biden’s presidency. A multi dimensional view of Cuba it’s military history, art history, cultural history especially in regards to race, religious history and its political history especially it’s relationship with the United States. The perspective is eye opening and helpful for the Cuban view and how Fidel Castro came to be and why he dug in the way he did. Beautifully written beautifully narrated.

Loved It!

I can’t say enough good things about this book. It sticks to factual events and sources while still explaining the history of Cuba from the arrival of Europeans to now.

I would love to hear more from the prospective of those that fled Cuba, but that’s on me now :)

The book we've needed.

Thank you, Dr. Ferrer, for writing this book. The scope is large and, in someone else's hands, overwhelming. You have not allowed that to dissuade the pursuit of clarity and understanding.

As a son of the exile, I can tell you how impossible it was to understand the rise of Fidel at all. If a question was asked it was shot down and dismissed as "communist" or worse, "it doesn't matter now."

In thinking about the turmoil in this country in this post-trumpian world, I asked the same questions that plagued me as a young son of the exiled: how did this happen?

It is hard to tell the history of a moment or even a movement without context. The context here is clear from the outset. From understanding that geography is destiny... A lay over for the trade if human beings and the departure point of untold treasures, Cuba was at the center.

Bridging the history of Cuba and the United States I heard the echoes of Marti and the declaration of the Americas.

I have recommended this book to everyone I can. I have read it the old fashioned way and now I've listened to it the new fashioned way.

I really appreciate hearing your voice at the beginning. I would have really preferred to have heard you read the entire book. No offense to the hired voice actor, just my thought.

Re-learning my history ❤️

As a Cuban born in 1970 growing up in Cuba and learning history there makes this book a great read. So many events not enough publicized, others making them always as victims was the way Cuban history was taught and still is. Thank you Ada Ferrer!

Excellent historical record that explains so much

I’ve visited Cuba twice in the early 2000’s. I wish I’d listened to this book before my visits! I highly recommend it to those who will visit the island.

Cuban history is so much more complex than we have been taught. US and Cuban history are inseparable. History must be viewed openly and accurately. Mistakes and horrors of the past will be repeated if they are not acknowledged and taught to our children. The propaganda so important to Che, Fidel, and communist revolution were no less dangerous than the lies and distortions of today’s US conservative movement. Documents like this book, remembering both the successes and failures of the past, are critical to our survival as a civilization.

As the author states, this book is as much a history of the US as it is of Cuba. Our histories are too interwoven to separate. Excellent document and presentation!

Wow!

What a gorgeously written book. An ode to Cuba, I learned so much, not only about Cuba, but the US. The performer is excellent and reads with much empathy and understanding. This may be one of the 5 best books Ive ever read - and I’ve read thousands. I can’t say enough about it. I wish it could have gone on forever.