About the book
Vintage U.S.-made cars on the streets of Havana provide a common representation of Cuba. Journalist Richard Schweid, who traveled throughout the island to research the story of motor vehicles in Cuba today and yesterday, gets behind the wheel and behind the stereotype in this colorful chronicle of cars, buses, and trucks. In his captivating, sometimes gritty, voice, Schweid blends previously untapped historical sources with his personal experiences, spinning a car-centered history of life on the island over the past century.
Packard, Studebaker, Edsel, De Soto: cars long extinct in the United States can be seen at work every day on Cuba’s streets. Havana and Santiago de Cuba today are home to some 60,000 North American cars, all dating back to at least 1959, the year the Cuban Revolution prevailed. Though hardly a new part has arrived in Cuba since 1960, the cars are still on the road, held together with mechanical ingenuity and willpower.
Visiting car mechanics, tracking down records in dusty archives, and talking with car-crazy Cubans of all types, Schweid juxtaposes historic moments (Fidel Castro riding to the Bay of Pigs in an Oldsmobile) with the quotidian (a weary mother’s two-cent bus ride home after a long day) and composes a rich, engaging picture of the Cuban people and their history. The narrative is complemented by fifty-two historic black-and-white photographs and eight color photographs by contemporary Cuban photographer Adalberto Roque.
Editions of Che's Chevrolet, Fidel's Oldsmobile
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780807828922
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780807858875
- EBook
- ISBN 9798890876355
- EBook
- ISBN 9798893131468
- EBook
- ISBN 9781469605739
- EBook
- ISBN 9780807888629
Read an Excerpt
Vintage U.S.-made cars on the streets of Havana provide a common representation of Cuba. Journalist Richard Schweid, who traveled throughout the island to research the story of motor vehicles in Cuba today and yesterday, gets behind the wheel and behind the stereotype in this colorful chronicle of cars, buses, and trucks. In his captivating, sometimes gritty, voice, Schweid blends previously untapped historical sources with his personal experiences, spinning a car-centered history of life on the island over the past century.
Packard, Studebaker, Edsel, De Soto: cars long extinct in the United States can be seen at work every day on Cuba’s streets. Havana and Santiago de Cuba today are home to some 60,000 North American cars, all dating back to at least 1959, the year the Cuban Revolution prevailed. Though hardly a new part has arrived in Cuba since 1960, the cars are still on the road, held together with mechanical ingenuity and willpower.
Visiting car mechanics, tracking down records in dusty archives, and talking with car-crazy Cubans of all types, Schweid juxtaposes historic moments (Fidel Castro riding to the Bay of Pigs in an Oldsmobile) with the quotidian (a weary mother’s two-cent bus ride home after a long day) and composes a rich, engaging picture of the Cuban people and their history. The narrative is complemented by fifty-two historic black-and-white photographs and eight color photographs by contemporary Cuban photographer Adalberto Roque.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Che's Chevrolet, Fidel's Oldsmobile about?
Vintage U.S.-made cars on the streets of Havana provide a common representation of Cuba. Journalist Richard Schweid, who traveled throughout the island to research the story of motor vehicles in Cuba today and yesterday, gets behind the wheel and behind the stereotype in this colorful chronicle of cars, buses, and trucks. In his captivating, sometimes gritty, voice, Schweid blends previously untapped historical sources with his personal experiences, spinning a car-centered history of life on the island over the past century.
Packard, Studebaker, Edsel, De Soto: cars long extinct in the United States can be seen at work every day on Cuba’s streets. Havana and Santiago de Cuba today are home to some 60,000 North American cars, all dating back to at least 1959, the year the Cuban Revolution prevailed. Though hardly a new part has arrived in Cuba since 1960, the cars are still on the road, held together with mechanical ingenuity and willpower.
Visiting car mechanics, tracking down records in dusty archives, and talking with car-crazy Cubans of all types, Schweid juxtaposes historic moments (Fidel Castro riding to the Bay of Pigs in an Oldsmobile) with the quotidian (a weary mother’s two-cent bus ride home after a long day) and composes a rich, engaging picture of the Cuban people and their history. The narrative is complemented by fifty-two historic black-and-white photographs and eight color photographs by contemporary Cuban photographer Adalberto Roque.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Che's Chevrolet, Fidel's Oldsmobile?
History and Archaeology > History > History of the Americas
Where can I read a sample of Che's Chevrolet, Fidel's Oldsmobile?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780807828922
How long is Che's Chevrolet, Fidel's Oldsmobile and how many pages does it have?
Che's Chevrolet, Fidel's Oldsmobile has 256 page(s)
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Che's Chevrolet, Fidel's Oldsmobile?
Richard Schweid
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Che's Chevrolet, Fidel's Oldsmobile is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780807828922) and paperback(ISBN 9780807858875) and ebook(ISBN 9798890876355) and ebook(ISBN 9798893131468) and ebook(ISBN 9781469605739) and ebook(ISBN 9780807888629)
Where can I buy Che's Chevrolet, Fidel's Oldsmobile online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Che's Chevrolet, Fidel's Oldsmobile from below
Where can I buy Che's Chevrolet, Fidel's Oldsmobile?