Reminiscences of the Cuban Revolutionary War: Authorized Edition by Ernesto Che Guevara

Reminiscences of the Cuban Revolutionary War: Authorized Edition Reviews

• 
  David

  This is a wonderful account of battles on the ground during the Cuban revolution, but it can be very hard to follow at times. The book features lots of different names and places which can leave the reader at times quite confused.
  
  Although this book lacks a considerable amount of stand out anecdotes, there is a story about a puppy that will tug on the heart strings and a few tales of individual acts of bravery that you will have no choice but to admire.
  
  This is not a book that encourages you to judge Che Guevara, as it focuses far more on his companeros than it does on him. It does however offer an interesting, if occasionally complicated eye witness account of what happened in the Sierra Maestra.
  
  If you are looking for a book on the politics of the revolution or a measure of the man, you are probably better off digging into Jon Lee Andersons book 'Che: A Revolutionary Life'. However, if you want to read an account of the day to day activities and struggles of a Cuban revolution (including, a guerilla 'pop up' cigar factory), warts and all,then this is a bit of history that you shouldn't ignore or pass by.
• 
  Fatima-Zahra Tita

  Amazing read. I learned a lot about military and guerilla strategy, the day to day life of the revolutionaries in the woods of the Sierra Maestra and the Cuban peasant life of the late 50s. I was captivated by the hopes and dreams of a whole generation of young men and women, and very touched by the numerous tales of bravery and falling soldiers... must read!
• 
  Olethros

  -¿La distancia da perspectiva y no la cercanía?.-
  
  Género. Ensayo.
  
  Lo que nos cuenta. Revisión de la parte más bélica de la Revolución Cubana desde el ojo y la pluma de uno de sus protagonistas más (re)conocidos. Trabajo publicado originalmente como artículos a finales de los años cincuenta y comienzos de los sesenta en diferentes periódicos y que ha tenido varias ediciones (y revisiones) a lo largo de los años. Esta edición en concreto incluye las revisiones que dejó el propio autor sobre su obra, de puño y letra, en uno de los primeros ejemplares.
  
  ¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
  
  
  http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...
• 
  Joseph Pitard

  I have a lot of respect for the way this is written. The accounts in the Cuban Revolutionary War felt very descriptive and I enjoyed it more than I expected. On the downside, there was so many names thrown into the story that it becomes a gigantic headache at some moments.
• 
  Agnese Caccia

  Ottima lettura per chi è interessato a conoscere le strategie dei ribelli durante la rivoluzione cubana. Più che sulla figura di Che Guevara, si concentra sui rapporti e i mezzi dei ribelli. Alle volte può risultare impegnativo e abbastanza faticoso da leggere, in particolar modo a causa delle innumerevoli citazioni a luoghi e persone sconosciuti.
• 
  Matt

  The fighting journal entries were good, well described. I skimmed names halfway through, just too many to keep track of.
  Favorite chapter was Camilo, very moving writing style. Extra star.
• 
  Dani (The Pluviophile Writer)

  Full review at The Pluviophile Reader:
  http://wp.me/p3VFNP-8l
  
  3/5 stars.
  Paperback, 320 pages.
  Read from February 07 to 16, 2015.
  
  I picked up this gem while I was actually in Cuba back in January of this year. It was my first trip to Cuba and I realized how little I knew about this fascinating little country with its big and expansive history. Thankfully there wasn't a shortage of propaganda where I was staying. If I had more money and space in my suitcase I would have purchased quite a few more books.
  
  Che is a remarkable individual and his dedication to Cuba and to the cause of communism is almost next to nothing. Che comes across as extremely intelligent and very articulate. His memoirs and diaries are published everywhere which probably makes him one of the most exposed politicians around. Don't get me wrong, the Cuban government is pretty good at giving the leaders of their communist revolution a great reputation, and they have to. The history of Cuba is a rocky one, so the insurgence of this particular revolution was necessary for its time. From the Spanish to the British, and then the US, someone else was always taking advantage of Cuba and its people suffered for it. In 1933, Sergeant Fulgencio Batista threw a coup to overthrow Gerado Machado, a Cuban dictator known for his vicious rule. Sadly, after this coup, little changed under Batista's rule. It was in 1953 when Fidel Castro made his first attempt to revolt against Batista's regime. It would be after this attack that a young Argentinian doctor named Ernesto Guevara would join the cause and assist in Cuba's revolution and liberation.
  
  "Che" is a form of colloquial Argentinian Spanish slang used in a vocative sense as "friend". Che is the famous nickname given to Ernesto as a joke and term of endearment based on his heritage from his fellow Cuban comrades.
  
  This book is a personal description of Che's experiences during this pivotal revolution. Che spares no details with how difficult it was living in the forest for months at time and the sad deaths and sacrifices endured by all, especially the peasants of Cuba, who were initially afraid to assist or join the cause. His recollection is impressive as he remembers many of the names of some of the small time peasants who were essential in helping with the revolution that might have other wise been forgotten. He also details the specifics of those who betrayed the cause. Some he speaks of with remorse or honor and others with absolute distaste and resentment. It was exciting to see how big the small group of rebels became over such a short period of time . In 1959 the rebels send a group of 9000 strong into Havana, forcing Batista to flee, starting the beginning of a new era for Cuba, one that would bring positive change to the country and the lives of its people for the better.
  
  From my own impressions of Cuba, some aspects of communism are no longer serving its people. Don't read me wrong, I'm not saying that they need to replace their system with American capitalism but there are definitely areas that need improvement. The locals don't have immediate access to some of the best food or clothes because they are too expensive and some people are still not allowed to leave specific regions of Cuba. Tourists get the best of everything, while they don't. I was asked twice, discreetly, while I was there if I had any clothes or items that I was willing to part with. It made me pretty sad but if I wasn't there as a tourist their economy and the people there would have even less. With tensions currently being mended between America and Cuba, as much as I don't want this quaint country to become Americanized, it will eventually mean improvements for the locals.
  
  Overall, a good description of the events and people that changed Cuba to make it the country that it is today.
• 
  Chronics

  We may know the outcome, and it may not have been intention, but this almost reads in the fashion of a fictional action novel. Guevera's distinct analytical style however shines through, and if the reader was somehow unaware it wouldnt take long to realise they were reading history.
  
  This is a fairly short diary that spans just over a year from the boarding of the Granma in Mexico to the final victory battle, reading to and from work and for an hour or so a night it took me a couple of days. As you would expect the diary more or less runs in chronological order, with the author adding detail retrospectively where deemed necessary, we witness all the battles he participated in and "those" moments in between that are so critical in any war. Context is usually pretty good, giving the reader enough information of the tactical relevance of each march or battle, and there is a lot of marching. As Che writes himself, a two hour battle can be retold in 3 minutes, but what comes out so expertly in this writing is the emotional toll of all aspects of their journey, from the killing to the toothaches, the despair and betrayal, to the jubilation, told first hand it gives an extra dimension to the stories you may already know.
  
  As with Guerilla Warfare, this is an essential read for anybody wanting to truly understand Guevara's ideology and mentality, it comes though in his speech and thought, which hard as they may try is normally very difficult for a third party to portray without the actual individuals explanation (I'm not slurring biographies in this statement). Considering the length, I would also recommend this even if you are merely studying Guevara for a short essay or to get a high level overview of the man, it is not steeped in ideological or political theory so isn't particularly difficult get through, whilst being exciting enough to stop you from putting it down.
• 
  Apolla

  I think this is probably necessary reading for anyone who ever cared about political change. You don't have to agree with him, but it's fascinating - to a point.
  
  There's a lot of reciting of facts - names mostly - and while it's actually quite touching that he cared enough to want the names of his fellow revolutionaries to be remembered, it doesn't make it a page-turner.
  
  Mostly, it was one of those books which didn't change my mind so much as reassure me that I hold the opinions I hold for good reasons and bring some new clarity to it.
  
  But to be honest? Watch Che: Part One and miss all the dull bits.
• 
  Evelyn

  I've always been fascinated by the cult status of Che Guevara, a man who is still held up as a symbol of hope and freedom that resonates with anyone who has felt oppressed by others around them. This book covers his diary entries from his time fighting in the Cuban Revolution and gives an honest and interesting eyewitness account of the events that unfolded. There are a lot of facts and names in each entry which can make it difficult to read at times, but I admire Che's commitment to keeping the story straight, even if it means it's not the easiest book to read. A good one to dip in and out of.
• 
  Meteori

  Poučna knjiga ukoliko se žele razumjeti južnoamerički narodi i njihova borba za slobodu.
  Pisana je u formi dnevnika i to daje poseban pečat knjizi - bez uljepšavanja i sa događajima sa lica mjesta.
  Nažalost, neki dijelovi nisu čitljivi (tipični doktorski rukopis koji nije mogla rastumačiti ni njegova supruga), ali i pored toga vrijedna je čitanja.
• 
  Michael

  Pretty impressive account although thin on the ground towards Santa Clara for anything interesting and skips over a lot of key details. The first two thirds of the book however are really excellent, very heavy with details, names, wit, woes, and brilliant pathos for the downtrodden of Oriente.
  
  Che conveys the deep nuances of a civil conflict, and never once does he ever blame or hate a traitor or an informer, accepting that they were motivated rationally by either material conditions or the fear that Batista's capitanes could inspire in rural communities.
  
  Lots of really funny moments, and you really get the impression that the entire revolution was almost won by the skin of its teeth at times. Here's a choice quote I really liked:
  
  "The entire column climbed to the Turquino peak, and up there we finished the interview with Bob Taber. He was preparing a film that was later televised in the United States, at a time when we were not feared so much. (One example of this came from a peasant who joined us, who said that Casillas had offered him three hundred pesos and a pregnant cow if he would kill Fidel.) The North Americans were not the only ones who were wrong about the price of our highest commander." - Che, April 1957
• 
  الصفاء

  
  
• 
  Big Boy Marty

  Who knew that guerrilla warfare could be so monotone?
• 
  Manuel Albaladejo

  Pasajes y vivencias personales del Che desde el desembarco del Granma en la playa de las Coloradas hasta la batalla final en Santa Clara. El libro muestra a un Che intimista que reconoce sus miedos e incluso su falta de destreza tanto con el fusil como con el botiquín. Para Fidel una Cuba libre de Batista es el objetivo final, mientras que para el Che Cuba no es más que el ejemplo para otros países sometidos. Quizás el aspecto más interesante que ofrece el libro, desde mi punta de vista, es la disputa interna del movimiento revolucionario entre el llano (a través de infructuosas huelgas y correrías políticas) y la sierra (a través del combate armado directo). Esas diferencias, que se acentúan con la muestra de debilidad del ejército de Batista, casi frustran el proceso revolucionario. La sierra sale fortalecida con la figura de Fidel como comandante en jefe y secretario general del movimiento en todo el país. La sierra desconfía de los revolucionarios moderados del llano al considerarlos meros espectadores agazapados esperando para asumir cargos políticos tras la salida de Batista. A través de los capítulos el Che hace un tributo a sus compañeros de lucha caídos en acción, al igual que desmerece a traidores, chivatos y desertores.
• 
  Rita Abdul-Malak

  This book gives a great insight into the everyday struggles of revolution. I find it so interesting, to be able to get inside Che's mind, the incredibly intelligent and cultured man who had a big heart and a dream of spreading freedom and joy across the world. Che's admirable attention to detail and his remarkable depiction of a guerrilla's emotional and psychological developments during a revolutionary war makes this a very dynamic read, not to mention his wit, which, at times, will really give you a good laugh.
  While it is true that the presence of countless names in the book meant that I constantly found myself going back a few pages so as not to get lost, I find that the special attention Che accords to every individual person's life is very admirable. His depiction of the hardships, the sacrifices, and the eventual joy that accompany revolutionaries throughout the war for liberation makes the reader really understand the day-to-day developments of the Cuban revolutionary war and its eventual victory.
• 
  J.Istsfor Manity

  It's a great story, but not by Che's telling. I don't consider him a very accomplished diarist. His is a reportage style, declarative and dry. I was hoping for more. A diarist that has all the tools of "creative nonfiction " at his disposal and rarely utilizes them. A Canonical work for some, an opportunity missed for me.
• 
  Royce Ratterman

  An historic work relating to its time. A 'Revolutionary', a coughing asthmatic, a Robin-Hood-Opposite, or just another misguided ideologist... the reader must decide. Taking peasants' horses for food, and even a donkey, among other atrocities, does not quite fit the imaginary portrait that many people have engraved in their minds. The feeling of being 'behind the lines' with Guevara does have its moments, however. I did enjoy many of the quotes within this work, especially this... "Anarchy is the worst enemy of the revolutionary process." -Fidel Castro
  
  From the provinces of ancient China and the Seven Hills of Rome, to beyond the monarchies of historic England... there is nothing new under the sun; and from Germany's Socialist Party (pre-and-post its leader, Adolf Hitler) to the Lenin-Stalin Soviet Socialists of the USSR, it doesn't take any historian, scholar, or any well-versed in global history and events over the past few thousand years, to see the repetitive nature and unavoidable destiny of foolishly embracing historically failed ideologies over and over again.
  
  - Friedrich Hayek’s 'The Road to Serfdom'
  With the rise of extremist ideologies in Europe, and the fear that they inspired, liberalism’s association with socialism became increasingly seen as a liability, if not a danger. FDR-style liberalism and the New Deal, and embarking on “collectivist experiments” would put countries on the slippery slope to fascism. The “social liberalism” toward which Britain and America were heading would invariably lead to “totalitarianism.”
  
  - Other works that may be of interest to you:
  
  The Axis Grand Strategy: Blueprints for the Total War - Ladislas Farago
  History of the Russian Revolution
  The Origins of Totalitarianism 1949 Hannah Arendt
  Burn After Reading: The Espionage History of World War II
  The Gulag Archipelago (Vol 1,2,3) by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
  The Game of the Foxes
  The Murderers among us. The Simon Wiesenthal memoirs.
  The Seven Military Classics of Ancient China
  
• 
  Doriane

  it feels like a gift to be able to read such an account of the cuban revolution. what transpires the most is the love for the people, for humanity, the hope to build something better, that cannot leave anyone unmoved. what inspired me the most is his rigour and the need for it, as a revolutionary and as an organized revolution.
  
  i cannot speak on him better than fidel:
  
  “What did he leave behind? I believe the biggest thing is, really, his moral values, his conscience. Che symbolized the highest human values, and he was an extraordinary example. He created a great aura, a great mystique. I admired him a great deal, and loved him. It always produces a great deal of affection, that admiration. And I explained the story of why I was so close to him ...
  
  There are so many indelible memories he left us, which is why I say that he is one of the noblest, most extraordinary, most disinterested men I’ve ever known, which would have no importance unless one believed that men like him exist by the million - millions and millions of them - within the masses. Men who distinguish themselves in a truly singular way couldn’t do anything unless many millions like him had the embryo or the ability, the capacity, to acquire those qualities. That’s why our Revolution has been so dedicated to fighting illiteracy and to developing the educational system. So that everyone can be like Che.”
  
  this leaves me hungry for the rest of his writings.
  
  
• 
  James Fleming

  A great summary (but nothing more) of the revolutionary battles from Guevara's point of view. But not much elaboration of his ideology. The narrative is somewhat disjointed, and, frankly, boring at times. Che Guevara comes across as the romantic figure one might expect him to be. He is no Marx or Trotsky however. There are sparks of Leninism, but also moments of Stalinism, romanticism, adventurism and nationalism in his accounts here. The letter to Fidel requesting him not to risk his life in battle, is more akin to liberalism than revolutionary socialism (socialists would demand, on a democratic basis that Fidel cease risking his life in the name of revolution, rather than obsequiously "request" it). There is a hint of "cult of personality" here too. Che was a great leader no doubt, but an ordinary revolutionary theorist (based on this account), who learned as much as other revolutionaries did through the process of the war. This is actually one of the most valuable aspects of the diary - we can see Guevara's personal development as a revolutionary leader via the heat of Battle and revolution.
• 
  Jim

  Dull and repetitive and almost too specific, unsurprisingly. in 1956 Che was known less - if at all - for his politics and theory and much more for following his heart and taking concrete action against his enemies. So we get a blow-by-blow diary of sorts about the trajectory of the Cuban Revolution. There is little big-picture thinking or analysis, but I would imagine when someone is fighting and could just as easily die as live, that same someone isn't considering world revolution or Marxist theory or colonial usurpers. Che's writing, as always, shows his talent even if most of the text is extremely dry and uninteresting. I am sure there are books about the Cuban Revolution that are much more expansive and larger in historical, political, and social scope, but that takes nothing away from this book, whose goals were more modest and limited. A must for Che historians, others may find it lacks depth and objectivity.
• 
  Shayan Sengupta

  Well, I was very excited to read this book. Earlier I have read the communist manifesto and Das Capital halfway through. Both of them dealt with some serious ideologies. However, instead of being based on political ideology this book is rather based on the art of war. It is more like a journalistic account of the Cuban revolutionary war. We get to know every single detail faced by the guerrilla in the political struggle to overthrow the dictator, Batista.
  However, the entire book is a journey towards the revolution in Cuba. We don't get to see any future plans for the nation. Che Guevara being a guerilla militant himself only seems to glorify war and its after-effects. Communism as a whole is a brilliant theory. However, the implementation is always wrong in every nation around the world. This is also evident in the development model of Cuba.
  The book is quite average in my opinion.
• 
  Yohan

  Read the Sinhala Translation. It was a quick read. and It was okay. there were some interesting quotes about war and revolution. also learnt how a revolutionist would think and how he/she is different from a paid solider. Issue was the flow of the story, specially when introducing new characters Che mentions his/her death, and how and when it happened right away. that's kind of a damage to the flow of the book. (considering the fact that, this was his personal journal, it's not an issue) and also the ending chapter felt like it's out of the flow completely (mentioning the whole chapter about some person who were never mentioned during the previous chapters).
  Got me Interested about the Cuban revolution, and will surely read more on this topic.
• 
  Noah

  This book is both an amazing piece of literature and an amazing piece of twentieth century history. The book takes readers from Che meeting Castro in Mexico and agreeing to partake in a revolution to the eventual success of that revolution. The book gives major insight into the gruelling nature of revolutionary life and paints a vivid image of hunger and despair. The one fault I have with this book is while it gives great insight into the conflicts, people, and struggles involved in the revolution, it gives little insight into Che as a person. The lens is seldom turned on him as his writing instead highlights many of his fellow revolutionaries and their contributions. All in all a great book and a vital piece of twentieth century leftist literature.
• 
  Stormie

  FINALLY FINISHED. aside from the small section featuring a few of castro's letters, this book has likely been my least favorite to read this semester. to me, guevara's writing is impossibly bland, mixed with his tendency to be an unreliable (and unlikeable) narrator.
  
  but hey, i have an exam next week over roughly 30 pages' worth of notes, including bits from this book, as well as two others. (at least the other two books are more memorable? eh.)
  
  i don't -not- like learning about the cuban revolution, as i feel it is important to understand--particularly because i am an american, but...yeah, nevertheless, i am glad we're moving back to reading a couple of other books in this class.
• 
  Rob Williams

  Obviously this is a very “Che eye view” of the happenings of the Cuban revolution. It contains scant information on the overall strategic plans of the July 26th Movement which is oddly disappointing to me. Nonetheless Che’s eloquent and matter of fact writing make this a good, quick read and a great view into the mind of one of the 20th centuries most polarizing figures during what is one of his most formative times.
• 
  Ali Pearson

  Can not recommend this enough! An in depth look at the daily life of the guerrilla warfare that won the cuban revolution from the Granma expedition to the victory of Santa Clara. Teaches many lessons on the spirit of an honest revolution and the pure patriotism that lead them to victory. Also, Che is just a great story teller and by the end of the book it’s hard not to feel like he is an old friend recounting war stories over a campfire.
• 
  Kizza

  A great and brilliantly authored description of Guevara's own experiences if the Cuban Revolution. Guevara's explanations at times seem almost poetic, and allow the reader to picture each movement, each village, each battle with clarity. Truly a fantastic read for those wanting to learn more about the Cuban Revolutions details, it's fallen heroes, and both its brightest and darkest hours.
• 
  Amanda Watson

  Che was a very expedient and clear writer. I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would! While most of the entries detail particular battles instrumental to winning the revolution, I was more interested in reading about the other day-to-day logistical challenges of living in the Sierra Maestra and also the large overarching political goals and strategies that both Che and Fidel had.
  
• 
  Simone Mendez

  I'm not really one to read war stories or books, but I feel like I had to read at least one book on the cuban revolution. I didnt exactly find it easy to get through, but understanding the intricacies of guerilla warfare was certainly interesting.