Havana: Autobiography of a City

by Alfredo José Estrada

Book Overview

Alfredo Jos Estrada's intimate ties to Havana form the basis for this "autobiography," written as though from the city's own heart. Covering the island's five hundred year history, Estrada portrays the adventurers and dreamers who left their mark on Havana, including Jos Mart , martyr for Cuban independence; and Ernest Hemingway, the most American of writers who became an unabashed Habanero.
Deeply personal and affecting, Havana is...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1403975396
• ISBN13: 9781403975393
• Release Date: March 2008
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.9" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

Great Cultural History

I'm amazed that I'm only the second person to review this title -- it deserves much more attention than this. "Cuba: Autobiography of a City" is a great history of a fascinating city. Part travelogue, part history, part cultural analysis, Estrada does a great job giving one a feel for Havana. I have no connections to Cuba and no great knowledge or opinions of the regime that has ruled the country these past 50 years. I know that the politics of the place will inevitably color many readers views of this book, but from a Cuba novice, I can only report that Estrada's approach seemed pretty even-handed. And besides, politics is only a part of this book -- there is a lot of color and art and history to be found in these pages. Highly recommended for anyone interested in Cuba, the Caribbean, or great world cities.