Cuba (Winner of the Pulitzer Prize): An American History

Written by Ada Ferrer

Narrated by Alma Cuervo

WINNER OF THE PULITZER PRIZE IN HISTORY
WINNER OF THE LOS ANGELES TIMES BOOK PRIZE IN HISTORY

“Full of…lively insights and lucid prose” (The Wall Street Journal) an epic, sweeping history of Cuba and its complex ties to the United States—from before the arrival of Columbus to the present day—written by one of the world’s leading historians of Cuba.

In 1961, at the height of the Cold War, the United States severed diplomatic relations with Cuba, where a momentous revolution had taken power three years earlier. For more than half a century, the stand-off continued—through the tenure of ten American presidents and the fifty-year rule of Fidel Castro. His death in 2016, and the retirement of his brother and successor Raúl Castro in 2021, have spurred questions about the country’s future. Meanwhile, politics in Washington—Barack Obama’s opening to the island, Donald Trump’s reversal of that policy, and the election of Joe Biden—have made the relationship between the two nations a subject of debate once more.

Now, award-winning historian Ada Ferrer delivers an “important” (The Guardian) and moving chronicle that demands a new reckoning with both the island’s past and its relationship with the United States. Spanning more than five centuries, Cuba: An American History provides us with a front-row seat as we witness the evolution of the modern nation, with its dramatic record of conquest and colonization, of slavery and freedom, of independence and revolutions made and unmade.

Along the way, Ferrer explores the sometimes surprising, often troubled intimacy between the two countries, documenting not only the influence of the United States on Cuba but also the many ways the island has been a recurring presence in US affairs. This is a story that will give Americans unexpected insights into the history of their own nation and, in so doing, help them imagine a new relationship with Cuba; “readers will close [this] fascinating book with a sense of hope” (The Economist).

Filled with rousing stories and characters, and drawing on more than thirty years of research in Cuba, Spain, and the United States—as well as the author’s own extensive travel to the island over the same period—this is a stunning and monumental account like no other.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
• Release date: Sep 7, 2021
• ISBN: 9781797124186

Ada Ferrer

Ada Ferrer is Julius Silver Professor of History and Latin American and Caribbean Studies at New York University, where she has taught since 1995. She is the author of Insurgent Cuba: Race, Nation, and Revolution, 1868–1898, winner of the Berkshire Book Prize for the best first book by a woman in any field of history, and Freedom’s Mirror: Cuba and Haiti in the Age of Revolution, which won the Frederick Douglass Book Prize from the Gilder Lehrman Center at Yale University as well as multiple prizes from the American Historical Association. Born in Cuba and raised in the United States, she has been traveling to and conducting research on the island since 1990.

Reviews for Cuba (Winner of the Pulitzer Prize)

[Roger Day · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Extraordinary, a rich telling of that inspiring and tragic history, full of startling incidents and perspectives that at times had my jaw drop in astonishment. I learned so much. The prose is compelling, sometimes lofty. Worthy of the Pulitzer.

[Steve · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Fascinating but also with author's personal bias at the end. Well researched and insightful despite her bias. Living through those times and reading through her account was well with the read.

[Chris Chang · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It’s a great book, I had the impression that the narrative would be more personal and intimate, but that’s not the case. Still, it’s worth reading.

[Kevin Kimbrough · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A decent history. But just leaves you rolling your eyes at the insistence and injecting woke politics.

[Max · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

While the book had valuable social analysis of the common Cubans, the author distorts and ignores important insights about Castros Cuba, loosing the appeal of objectivity.

[Maria · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

This was a very one sided book written by someone that never lived in Cuba except as a baby. All white people were bad and all people of color were heroes. I don’t think she mentioned that Batista was a mulato (it doesn’t fit her profile) and Che was a psychopathic murderer (he also despised gays and enjoyed murdering people.) In reality, Columbus was not a bad person, not all spaniard were murders and not all people of color were good. She puts some truth and many lies

[Lyndon Turner · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This author put my memories into a more complete and complex perspective. Being born in 1956, I remember much of Castro’s reign. I give this book my highest recommendation.

[Benjamin Birch · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

An amazing book that has changed my mind and ideas about Cuba forever changed. This book is amazing! The author does a great job of introducing you to people and topics.