A unique history of Cuba, captured in the life and times of the famous rum dynasty The Bacardis of Cuba, builders of a rum distillery and a worldwide brand, came of age with their nation and helped define what it meant to be Cuban. Across five generations, the Bacardi family has held fast to its Cuban identity, even in exile from the country for whose freedom they once fought. Now National Public Radio correspondent Tom Gjelten tells the dramatic story of one family, its business, and its nation, a 150-year tale with the sweep and power of an epic. The Bacardi clan--patriots and bon vivants, entrepreneurs and intellectuals--provided an example of business and civic leadership in its homeland for nearly a century. From the fight for Cuban independence from Spain in the 1860s to the rise of Fidel Castro and beyond, there is no chapter in Cuban history in which the Bacardis have not played a role. In chronicling the saga of this remarkable family and the company that bears its name, Tom Gjelten describes the intersection of business and power, family and politics, community and exile.
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 5.0 / 5.0
A fine pick for any general-interest library In 1862 a businessman in Cuba with little experience in rum opened a small distillery hoping to make a working man's drink - and invented a formula that made his rum famous. Bacardi's company brought worldwide fame to Cuba and in decades to follow it would become integral with Cuban politics, economics and social life. BACARDI AND THE LONG FIGHT FOR CUBA documents the company's history and in the process provides hard-hitting insights on Cuban history and culture. A fine pick for any general-interest... more info
Bacardi and the Long Fight for Cuba Outstanding book! My father was an executive with Bacardi for 25 years. As such, I have some knowledge about the company, its history, and many of the events related in the book, as well as knowing many of the people written about in the book. The author has done a tremendous job in his research, and in getting the essence of the Bacardi family and, by extension, the Cuban story correct. This is not only a good read for anyone interested in the Bacardi story, but also a well written, and... more info
cocktails castro and cubra libra great read super history of a family the country they love politics and our american bungling. gracoius not gossipy more an ode to this past century, revolution, rum a wonderous family their love for their people their country and their product......I read my copy off the coast of Cuba......cheers
A Fine Document Tom Gjelten is a reporter for National Public Radio, with extensive background in foreign affairs. He shows is skill in understanding international relations with this masterful history of Cuba, from colonial days to the present. This is a beautifully documented history, with footnotes, a detailed list of sources, and a comprehensive index. The history of the Cuban nation is interwoven with the history of the Bacardi family, from the first Catalan immigrant, Facundo Bacardi, to the present diaspora... more info
Related
Sections
