The Cuban revolution was one of the defining moments of the 20th century, its influence reaching far beyond the shores of the tiny Caribbean island.

As Cuba marks the 50th anniversary of the 1959 overthrow of the Batista dictatorship, this book documents the turbulent history of Fidel Castro’s revolution, from the euphoria of the early years to near economic collapse in the 1990s and finally the Cuban leader’s decision to step down in 2008.

The editor offers a critical examination of Cuba’s decades-long relationship with the Soviet Union and the epilogue considers the prospects for the revolution without Fidel Castro.


Including a comprehensive chronology and index, this is an essential resource for scholars and others.

2008, Ocean Press, 360 pages