Fidel Castro

A Spoken Autobiography

By: Fidel Castro, Ignacio Ramonet

Narrated by: Todd McLaren, Patrick Lawlor

For decades, people have tried to persuade the leader of the Cuban Revolution to tell his own life story. Ignacio Ramonet, the celebrated editor in chief of Le Monde diplomatique, has finally succeeded. For the first time, in a series of extensive and probing interviews, Fidel Castro describes his life from the 1950s to the present day. In frank and compelling detail, he discusses his parents and his childhood, his earliest influences, the beginnings of the revolution, his relationship with Che Guevara, the drama of the Bay of Pigs and the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Jimmy Carter years, Cuban migration to the United States, his dealings with successive American presidents from Dwight D. Eisenhower to George W. Bush, and his relationship with such controversial leaders as Saddam Hussein and Hugo Chavez.

Along the way, Ramonet challenges Castro to discuss his views on a number of controversial questions, from human rights and freedom of the press to the repression of homosexuality and the survival of the death penalty in Cuba. This book will stand as the definitive record of an extraordinary life lived in turbulent times.

©2006 Ignacio Ramonet (P)2008 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Enormously fascinating." ( Booklist)
"A book of great importance to anyone interested in contemporary history and current events." ( Kirkus)

A very entertaining read

In my opinion fiddle Castro is one of the most important statement of the 20th century in 500 years if humans still have a civilization people will study fiddle Castro and they will know about him the same can't be said most United States presidents

great book.

All I can say is that it opened my eyes.. great book. Fidel comes off like a well meaning guy.

Restraint. Resolve. Vision.

I listened to this book while on holiday in Santiago de Cuba and found Castro fascinating: his restraint, resolve, moral vision are inspiring and I think that history will judge him to be one of the towering figures of his century.

Incredible first accounts by Fidel Castro

Remarkably & astounding. Fidel Castro book is very insightful and pushes the envelope on perspective taking. One thing is for sure Cuba and Castro has done a great deal of humanitarian work.

Really enjoyed reading this book

This is a great book that gives real insight into the mind and process of Fidel Castro.