Cuba Past and Present

In this vivid portrait of Cuba, the author blends first‑hand travel memories with a wealth of recent scholarship to bring the island’s landscape and history to life. Readers are guided along the jagged coastline, through the soaring Sierra Maestra and the copper‑rich mountains that crown the island, while vivid illustrations and a detailed map help visualise every turn. The narrative captures the contrast between bustling ports and quiet bays, offering a sense of place that feels both immediate and timeless.

Beyond geography, the work delves into the island’s past, from the youthful exploits of Columbus—drawn from newly uncovered Genoese archives—to the legacy of colonial exhibitions and the lingering ties to the broader West Indian world. Interwoven anecdotes about early American visitors and comparative sketches of the Bahamas provide a broader context, while the author’s candid reflections keep the tone conversational rather than academic. Listeners will come away with a richer appreciation of Cuba’s natural splendor and the complex forces that have shaped its identity.