On July 26, 1953, Haydée Santamaría was one of two women who joined Fidel Castro in the armed attack against the Moncada Barracks, a battle widely remembered as the fight that launched the Cuban Revolution—but the attack itself proved unsuccessful. During the tragic events that followed, Haydée was arrested, tortured, and lost many loved ones, including her brother and fiancé. Still, she continued to commit herself to the struggle despite the unthinkable hardships she faced, co-founding the July 26 Revolutionary Movement against the Batista dictatorship, and after their victory, establishing and directing the prestigious cultural institute Casa de las Américas.

This book is a discussion held in 1968 between the introverted leader and the curious youth of a new revolutionary society. Their conversation gives us an intimate glimpse into the unique experience of fighting at the frontlines of a liberation struggle—a position where you don’t know what lies ahead. Years later, Haydée’s testimony serves as reference for the long fight of the Cuban people in achieving sovereignty, dignity, and building a socialist project.

HAYDEE SANTAMARIA (1922–1980) was a leader in the Cuban Revolution. She went on to co-found the July 26 Revolutionary Movement against the Batista dictatorship, and after their victory, established and directed the prestigious cultural institute Casa de las Américas.

JAIME GÓMEZ TRIANA and ANA NIRIA ALBO DÍAZ are the vice president and director of the Program of Latino Studies at Casa de las Américas, respectively.

ROBERTO FERNÁNDEZ RETAMAR (1930–2019) was a Cuban poet, essayist, and literary critic, who became a prominent cultural spokesperson of the Revolution and served as director of Casa de las Américas after Haydee's tenure. He interviewed literary titans such as Ernest Hemingway, was the first secretary of the National Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba (UNEAC), and received dozens of awards for his contributions to the literary world, including the National Prize of Literature in Cuba and the UNESCO/José Martí Prize.

ISBN: 9798991013901

Page count: 100 pages