About the book
For many Cubans, Fidel Castro’s Revolution represented deliverance from a legacy of inequality and national disappointment. For others—especially those exiled in the United States—Cuba’s turn to socialism made the prerevolutionary period look like paradise lost. Michael J. Bustamante unsettles this familiar schism by excavating Cubans’ contested memories of the Revolution’s roots and results over its first twenty years. Cubans’ battles over the past, he argues, not only defied simple political divisions; they also helped shape the course of Cuban history itself. As the Revolution unfolded, the struggle over historical memory was triangulated among revolutionary leaders in Havana, expatriate organizations in Miami, and average Cuban citizens. All Cubans leveraged the past in individual ways, but personal memories also collided with the Cuban state’s efforts to institutionalize a singular version of the Revolution’s story.
Drawing on troves of archival materials, including visual media, Bustamante tracks the process of what he calls retrospective politics across the Florida Straits. In doing so, he drives Cuban history beyond the polarized vision seemingly set in stone today and raises the prospect of a more inclusive national narrative.
Editions of Cuban Memory Wars
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9781469662022
- Paperback
- ISBN 9781469662039
- EBook
- ISBN 9781469662053
- EBook
- ISBN 9798890860576
- EBook
- ISBN 9781469662046
- PDF
- ISBN 9798890860569
Read an Excerpt
For many Cubans, Fidel Castro’s Revolution represented deliverance from a legacy of inequality and national disappointment. For others—especially those exiled in the United States—Cuba’s turn to socialism made the prerevolutionary period look like paradise lost. Michael J. Bustamante unsettles this familiar schism by excavating Cubans’ contested memories of the Revolution’s roots and results over its first twenty years. Cubans’ battles over the past, he argues, not only defied simple political divisions; they also helped shape the course of Cuban history itself. As the Revolution unfolded, the struggle over historical memory was triangulated among revolutionary leaders in Havana, expatriate organizations in Miami, and average Cuban citizens. All Cubans leveraged the past in individual ways, but personal memories also collided with the Cuban state’s efforts to institutionalize a singular version of the Revolution’s story.
Drawing on troves of archival materials, including visual media, Bustamante tracks the process of what he calls retrospective politics across the Florida Straits. In doing so, he drives Cuban history beyond the polarized vision seemingly set in stone today and raises the prospect of a more inclusive national narrative.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Cuban Memory Wars about?
For many Cubans, Fidel Castro’s Revolution represented deliverance from a legacy of inequality and national disappointment. For others—especially those exiled in the United States—Cuba’s turn to socialism made the prerevolutionary period look like paradise lost. Michael J. Bustamante unsettles this familiar schism by excavating Cubans’ contested memories of the Revolution’s roots and results over its first twenty years. Cubans’ battles over the past, he argues, not only defied simple political divisions; they also helped shape the course of Cuban history itself. As the Revolution unfolded, the struggle over historical memory was triangulated among revolutionary leaders in Havana, expatriate organizations in Miami, and average Cuban citizens. All Cubans leveraged the past in individual ways, but personal memories also collided with the Cuban state’s efforts to institutionalize a singular version of the Revolution’s story.
Drawing on troves of archival materials, including visual media, Bustamante tracks the process of what he calls retrospective politics across the Florida Straits. In doing so, he drives Cuban history beyond the polarized vision seemingly set in stone today and raises the prospect of a more inclusive national narrative.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Cuban Memory Wars?
History and Archaeology > History > History of the Americas
Where can I read a sample of Cuban Memory Wars?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781469662022
How long is Cuban Memory Wars and how many pages does it have?
Cuban Memory Wars has 318 page(s)
Is Cuban Memory Wars part of a series, and can it be read as a standalone?
Yes it is a part of series Envisioning Cuba
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Cuban Memory Wars?
Michael J. Bustamante
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Cuban Memory Wars is available as hardcover(ISBN 9781469662022) and paperback(ISBN 9781469662039) and ebook(ISBN 9781469662053) and ebook(ISBN 9798890860576) and ebook(ISBN 9781469662046) and pdf(ISBN 9798890860569)
Where can I buy Cuban Memory Wars online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Cuban Memory Wars from below
Where can I buy Cuban Memory Wars?