Havana Autobiography Of A City

Alfredo José Estrada's intimate ties to Havana form the basis for this "autobiography," written as though from the city's own heart. Covering the island's five hundred year history, Estrada portrays the adventurers and dreamers who left their mark on Havana, including José Martí, martyr for Cuban independence; and Ernest Hemingway, the most American of writers who became an unabashed Habanero. Deeply personal and affecting, Havana is the accessible and complete story of the city for the history buff and armchair traveler alike.

In this exquisite volume, author Maria Luisa Lobo Montalvo presents the architecture and history of Havana - part of which has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site - in an accessible and engaging text and specially commissioned color photographs."--BOOK JACKET.

An exploration of Havana's history and its paradoxes: a city where architectural treasures survive among the crumbling tenements; where a vibrant street life takes place amidst shortages; and where revolutionary politics, machismo and a thriving black market co-exist.

"Serious but easily readable. The History of Havana employs conventional documentary, written and visual sources and a variety of testimonials from throughout the world to bring to life the complex portraits and challenges of contemporary Havana." --Harry Belafonte Since its founding in 1519, Havana has drawn people from all over the world, including explorers, immigrant, refugees, and the exiled, to create a melting pot of influences and cultures--and a very distinct history. From its colonial roots to its communist revolution, authors Dick Cluster and Rafael Hernández examine not only the ruptures in the city's life, but its continuities as well. The traditions that make the city unique, like its idiosyncratic combination of territorialism and hospitality or its proclivity for protest, are as much a drive for change as an integral element of its character. Drawing on oral histories and cultural artifacts alike, this history acknowledges the rich and artfully selected stories of the citizens, from their fascinating exploits to their grand successes, to be as significant to the very fabric of the city as its dynamic culture and intriguing politics, making it a superbly well-rounded account of the most alluring city in the Caribbean. With grace and precision, in this updated and revised second edition of their classic history of the city Cluster and Hernández offer the divergent but productive perspectives of the American and the Cuban in lyrical and accessible prose on Cuba's magical capital. Generously illustrated with black-and-white photographs and maps.

A city of tropical heat, sweat, ramshackle beauty, and its very own cadence--a city that always surprises--Havana is brought to pulsing life by New York Times bestselling author Mark Kurlansky. Award-winning author Mark Kurlansky presents an insider's view of Havana: the elegant, tattered city he has come to know over more than thirty years. Part cultural history, part travelogue, with recipes, historic engravings, photographs, and Kurlansky's own pen-and-ink drawings throughout, Havana celebrates the city's singular music, literature, baseball, and food; its five centuries of outstanding, neglected architecture; and its extraordinary blend of cultures. Like all great cities, Havana has a rich history that informs the vibrant place it is today--from the native Taino to Columbus's landing, from Cuba's status as a U.S. protectorate to Batista's dictatorship and Castro's revolution, from Soviet presence to the welcoming of capitalist tourism. Havana is a place of extremes: a beautifully restored colonial city whose cobblestone streets pass through areas that have not been painted or repaired since long before the revolution. Kurlansky shows Havana through the eyes of Cuban writers, such as Alejo Carpentier and José Martí, and foreigners, including Graham Greene and Hemingway. He introduces us to Cuban baseball and its highly opinionated fans; the city's music scene, alive with the rhythm of Son; its culinary legacy. Through Mark Kurlansky's multilayered and electrifying portrait, the long-elusive city of Havana comes stirringly to life.

Newly revised and redesigned, this book assesses nearly 500 years of urban development and planning in Havana, paying particular attention to the city's rich blend of Spanish-Cuban-Latin American-North American architecture and design.

Discover the colourful soul of Havana with renowned photographer Heidi Hollinger! Heidi Hollinger first travelled to Havana in 1988 and has been returning often for almost 30 years. On every trip to Cuba’s capital, she visits Selene, her adoptive grandmother. She truly knows the city intimately. Like Heidi, you’ll be dazzled by Havana—the city’s endless visual feast will blow you away. She’ll introduce you to the peanut vendor who calls out “Mani” (peanuts) and offers his wares in a white paper cone; to Cuban women draped in colours and standing in doorways; and to barefoot children playing soccer in public squares. Heidi’s expert eye captures the extraordinary beauty of the Baroque and Spanish Colonial architecture, which bears witness to 400 years of history, the vibrancy of Cuba’s music, the country’s new cuisine, the rooftop terraces, the thrill of getting around by almendrón (vintage cars), the top shops and restaurants and the loveliest areas to visit. The stunning photos by the internationally known photographer will have you walking and dancing in the streets of Havana before you’ve even booked a ticket.

The Rough Guide to Havana is the ultimate guide to this lively city in Cuba. The full-color section introduces the best Havana has to offer. This first edition is full of informed descriptions and accurate listings of the best bars, restaurants and music venues to be seen at with maps and plans for every area. This guide also takes a detailed look at the history of Havana. From the Museo de la Revolución and other must-visit museums and galleries to splendid architectural gems including the Catedral de San Cristóbal,the Rough Guide steers you to the best restaurants, stylish bars & cafés, and hottest nightlife across every price range. The guide provides comprehensive coverage of hotels as well as private homestays, the best places to stay for an up-close experience of life in Cuba. Extensive coverage of the outer boroughs La Lisa and Marianao complements an unprecedented level of detail for the main four city neighborhoods, Habana Vieja, Centro Habana, Vedado and Miramar.