Cuba: An American History

In 1961, during the Cold War, the US cut ties with Cuba after a revolution. The standoff lasted over half a century, with ten US presidents and Fidel Castro’s rule. His death in 2016 and Raúl Castro’s retirement in 2021 raised questions about Cuba’s future. US politics, from Obama’s opening to Trump’s reversal and Biden’s election, rekindled the relationship debate.

Historian Ada Ferrer offers a moving chronicle of the island’s past and its relationship with the US. Spanning over five centuries, it chronicles the nation’s evolution, from conquest and colonization to slavery and freedom, independence, and revolutions. Ferrer explores the surprising intimacy between the two countries, documenting US influence and Cuba’s recurring presence in US affairs.

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