Cuba Libre!: Che, Fidel, and the Improbable Revolution That Changed World History, Perrottet Tony

Most people are familiar with the general basics of the Cuban Revolution of 1956-1958: it was led by two of the twentieth centurys most iconic figures, Fidel Castro and Che Guevara; it successfully overthrew the island nations US-backed dictator; and it quickly went awry under Castros rule.

But less is remembered about the amateur nature of the upstart movement or the lives of its players. In this wildly entertaining and meticulously researched account, historian and travel writer Tony Perrottet unravels the human drama behind historys most improbable revolution: the story of how a scruffy handful of self-taught revolutionaries--many of them kids just out of college, literature majors, art students, and young lawyers, including a number of women--defeated 40,000 professional soldiers to overthrow the dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista. Cuba Libre s deep dive into the revolution reveals fascinating details: How did Fidels highly organized lover Celia S nchez whip the male guerrillas into shape? Who were the two dozen American volunteers who joined the Cuban rebels? How do you make lethal land mines from condensed milk cans--or, for that matter, cook chorizo la guerrilla (sausage guerrilla-style)?