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Havana
- A Subtropical Delirium
- Narrated by: Fleet Cooper
- Length: 6 hrs
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Release date: 03-07-17
- Language: English
- Publisher: Audible Studios for Bloomsbury
- Whispersync for Voice-ready
Regular price: $15.48
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Publisher's Summary
Award-winning author Mark Kurlansky presents an insider's view of Havana: the elegant, tattered city he has come to know over more than 30 years. Part cultural history, part travelogue, with recipes throughout, Havana celebrates the city's singular music, literature, baseball and food; its five centuries of outstanding neglected architecture; and its extraordinary blend of cultures.
Like all great cities, Havana has a rich history that informs the vibrant place it is today - from the native Taino to Columbus' landing, from Cuba's status as a US protectorate to Batista's dictatorship and Castro's revolution, from Soviet presence to the welcoming of capitalist tourism. Havana is a place of extremes: a beautifully restored colonial city whose cobblestone streets pass through areas that have not been painted or repaired since long before the revolution.
Kurlansky shows Havana through the eyes of Cuban writers, such as Alejo Carpentier and José Martí, and foreigners, including Graham Greene and Hemingway. He introduces us to Cuban baseball and its highly opinionated fans; the city's music scene, alive with the rhythm of Son; its culinary legacy. Through Mark Kurlansky's multilayered and electrifying portrait, the long-elusive city of Havana comes stirringly to life.
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- Dag Zaggles
- 02-16-18
Amazing tale of an amazing island!
Mark Kurlansky's sometimes oddly specific topics make for perfect audio books and this is no exception. Fantastic tale of revolution and romance!
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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- See Reverse
- 03-31-18
Havana was Nice, But Salt is Better
I've been an avid listener of Mark Kurlansky's work, so I was doubly excited to hear that this book was released and it was a decent departure from the Salt/Basque storyline that I've so enjoyed from the earlier books.
While Havana is interesting in its coverage of the relatively tumultuous history of the city, it doesn't have the same feel as Kurlansky's other work. I'm not disappointed, this book definitely gave me a better feel for the deep rooted place Havana holds in American Culture (Sloppy Joe's!)
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Christopher
- 09-03-17
interesting introduction to Havana
I really enjoyed both the content and flow of this book.
It covers a long history but the author captured the important aspects.