Items related to King of Cuba
Told with wry wit and keen insight, this entertaining and richly satisfying story about a fictionalized Fidel Castro and an octogenarian Cuban exile obsessed with seeking revenge against the dictator—from the National Book Award finalist and author of Dreaming in Cuban.
Vivid and alive, Cristina García’s new novel transports readers to Cuba, to Miami, and into the heads of two larger-than-life men—a fictionalized Fidel Castro and an octogenarian Cuban exile obsessed with seeking revenge against the dictator. In King of Cuba, the National Book Award finalist and author of Dreaming in Cuban, writing at the top of her form with humor and humanity, returns to the territory of her homeland.
El Comandante, an aging dictator, shambles about his mansion in Havana, visits a dying friend, tortures hunger strikers in one of his prisons, and grapples with the stale end of his life that is as devoid of grandeur as his nearly sixty-year-old revolution. Across the waters in Florida, Goyo Herrera, a Miami exile in his eighties, plots revenge against his longtime enemy—the very same El Comandante—whom he blames for stealing his beloved, ruining his homeland, and taking his father’s life. Herrera would gladly “wear chains on his ankles, chisel stones for his remaining days, even become a goddamn Democrat for the gratification of personally expediting the tyrant’s journey back to the Devil, with whom he’d obviously made a pact.”
With her masterful twinning of El Comandante and Herrera, along with the rabble of other Cuban voices that combine to create a chorus of history’s unofficial stories, García plumbs the passions and realities of these two Cubas—on the island and off—and offers a pulsating story that entertains and illuminates.
Vivid and alive, Cristina García’s new novel transports readers to Cuba, to Miami, and into the heads of two larger-than-life men—a fictionalized Fidel Castro and an octogenarian Cuban exile obsessed with seeking revenge against the dictator. In King of Cuba, the National Book Award finalist and author of Dreaming in Cuban, writing at the top of her form with humor and humanity, returns to the territory of her homeland.
El Comandante, an aging dictator, shambles about his mansion in Havana, visits a dying friend, tortures hunger strikers in one of his prisons, and grapples with the stale end of his life that is as devoid of grandeur as his nearly sixty-year-old revolution. Across the waters in Florida, Goyo Herrera, a Miami exile in his eighties, plots revenge against his longtime enemy—the very same El Comandante—whom he blames for stealing his beloved, ruining his homeland, and taking his father’s life. Herrera would gladly “wear chains on his ankles, chisel stones for his remaining days, even become a goddamn Democrat for the gratification of personally expediting the tyrant’s journey back to the Devil, with whom he’d obviously made a pact.”
With her masterful twinning of El Comandante and Herrera, along with the rabble of other Cuban voices that combine to create a chorus of history’s unofficial stories, García plumbs the passions and realities of these two Cubas—on the island and off—and offers a pulsating story that entertains and illuminates.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
Review:
"Garcia's writing is laced with candor and wit as she portrays the lives of two men united by the past."--Gabe Habash "Publishers Weekly "
"Mordantly funny and insightful..."King of Cuba" has its roots in long-simmering political strife, but it is finally a novel about the human condition, about aging and loss and undying love for a country that once was paradise, at least in memory."--Colette Bancroft "Tampa Bay Times "
"Garcia's serio-comic novel gives us all the pop delight of a musical based on major historical events and a devastating portrait of two men and a tyrannical government on the way out. Anyone with an interest in late 20th century politics will find this book a wicked pleasure."--Alan Cheuse "National Public Radio "
Garcia's serio-comic novel gives us all the pop delight of a musical based on major historical events and a devastating portrait of two men and a tyrannical government on the way out. Anyone with an interest in late 20th century politics will find this book a wicked pleasure. --Alan Cheuse "National Public Radio ""
"Mordantly funny and insightful...King of Cuba has its roots in long-simmering political strife, but it is finally a novel about the human condition, about aging and loss and undying love for a country that once was paradise, at least in memory."--Colette Bancroft "Tampa Bay Times "
"Darkly hilarious, Garcia braids...parallel stories with consummate ease. With a fine balance of wry absurdity and existential poignancy, Garcia builds not just a tale of the end of days but a snapshot of the past impact and future reverberations of Cuba's revolution--a theme more fascinating than ever as the once-isolated island nation opens itself to the world."--Elle Magazine
"Fabulously absurdist. Much has been written about Havana vs. Miami... but Garcia's satirical version of events...feels fresh because Garcia sets the novel in modern times. Passions may have cooled, but the anger remains, ossified but still there. King of Cuba is about wish fulfillment, that long-imagined moment for many exiles when they have a chance to confront the man they blame for ruining their country and so many lives. Garcia delivers the conclusion in style but with a caveat: Revenge isn't always what you think it might be."--Amy Driscoll "Miami Herald "
"A bittersweet story whose power far outweighs its simple structure. The portrait Garcia paints of [El Coamndante]--nostalgic but utterly unsentimental, evil but magnetic -- is the best thing she's ever written, a pitch-perfect study of tyranny in winter."--Steve Donoghue "The Washington Post "
About the Author:
"Mordantly funny and insightful..."King of Cuba" has its roots in long-simmering political strife, but it is finally a novel about the human condition, about aging and loss and undying love for a country that once was paradise, at least in memory."--Colette Bancroft "Tampa Bay Times "
"Garcia's serio-comic novel gives us all the pop delight of a musical based on major historical events and a devastating portrait of two men and a tyrannical government on the way out. Anyone with an interest in late 20th century politics will find this book a wicked pleasure."--Alan Cheuse "National Public Radio "
Garcia's serio-comic novel gives us all the pop delight of a musical based on major historical events and a devastating portrait of two men and a tyrannical government on the way out. Anyone with an interest in late 20th century politics will find this book a wicked pleasure. --Alan Cheuse "National Public Radio ""
"Mordantly funny and insightful...King of Cuba has its roots in long-simmering political strife, but it is finally a novel about the human condition, about aging and loss and undying love for a country that once was paradise, at least in memory."--Colette Bancroft "Tampa Bay Times "
"Darkly hilarious, Garcia braids...parallel stories with consummate ease. With a fine balance of wry absurdity and existential poignancy, Garcia builds not just a tale of the end of days but a snapshot of the past impact and future reverberations of Cuba's revolution--a theme more fascinating than ever as the once-isolated island nation opens itself to the world."--Elle Magazine
"Fabulously absurdist. Much has been written about Havana vs. Miami... but Garcia's satirical version of events...feels fresh because Garcia sets the novel in modern times. Passions may have cooled, but the anger remains, ossified but still there. King of Cuba is about wish fulfillment, that long-imagined moment for many exiles when they have a chance to confront the man they blame for ruining their country and so many lives. Garcia delivers the conclusion in style but with a caveat: Revenge isn't always what you think it might be."--Amy Driscoll "Miami Herald "
"A bittersweet story whose power far outweighs its simple structure. The portrait Garcia paints of [El Coamndante]--nostalgic but utterly unsentimental, evil but magnetic -- is the best thing she's ever written, a pitch-perfect study of tyranny in winter."--Steve Donoghue "The Washington Post "
Cristina Garcia is the author of six novels, including the National Book Award finalist Dreaming in Cuban; children's books; anthologies; and poetry. She is the recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship and a Whiting Writers' Award, among other honors, and is currently University Chair in Creative Writing at Texas State University-San Marcos. Visit her website at CristinaGarciaNovelist.com.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
- PublisherScribner
- Publication date2013
- ISBN 10 1476710244
- ISBN 13 9781476710242
- BindingHardcover
- Number of pages235
- Rating
Buy New
Learn more about this copy
£ 6.47
Shipping:
£ 4.71
Within U.S.A.
Top Search Results from the AbeBooks Marketplace
Stock Image
King of Cuba: A Novel
Published by
Scribner
(2013)
ISBN 10: 1476710244
ISBN 13: 9781476710242
New
Hardcover
First Edition
Quantity: 1
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Hardcover. Condition: New. Dust Jacket Condition: New. 1st Edition. Synopsis: Told with wry wit and keen insight, this entertaining and richly satisfying story about a fictionalized Fidel Castro and an octogenarian Cuban exile obsessed with seeking revenge against the dictatorfrom the National Book Award finalist and author of Dreaming in Cuban. Vivid and alive, Cristina Garcías new novel transports readers to Cuba, to Miami, and into the heads of two larger-than-life mena fictionalized Fidel Castro and an octogenarian Cuban exile obsessed with seeking revenge against the dictator. In King of Cuba, the National Book Award finalist and author of Dreaming in Cuban, writing at the top of her form with humor and humanity, returns to the territory of her homeland. El Comandante, an aging dictator, shambles about his mansion in Havana, visits a dying friend, tortures hunger strikers in one of his prisons, and grapples with the stale end of his life that is as devoid of grandeur as his nearly sixty-year-old revolution. Across the waters in Florida, Goyo Herrera, a Miami exile in his eighties, plots revenge against his longtime enemythe very same El Comandantewhom he blames for stealing his beloved, ruining his homeland, and taking his fathers life. Herrera would gladly "wear chains on his ankles, chisel stones for his remaining days, even become a goddamn Democrat for the gratification of personally expediting the tyrants journey back to the Devil, with whom hed obviously made a pact." With her masterful twinning of El Comandante and Herrera, along with the rabble of other Cuban voices that combine to create a chorus of historys unofficial stories, García plumbs the passions and realities of these two Cubason the island and offand offers a pulsating story that entertains and illuminates. About the Author: Cristina García is the author of six novels, including the National Book Award finalist Dreaming in Cuban; childrens books; anthologies; and poetry. She is the recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship and a Whiting Writers Award, among other honors, and is currently University Chair in Creative Writing at Texas State University-San Marcos. "About this title" may belong to another edition of this title. Seller Inventory # ABE-1634329276416
Buy New
£ 6.47
Convert currency
Stock Image
King of Cuba: A Novel
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Condition: New. . Seller Inventory # 52GZZZ0094RV_ns
Buy New
£ 19.70
Convert currency
Stock Image
King of Cuba: A Novel
Published by
Scribner
(2013)
ISBN 10: 1476710244
ISBN 13: 9781476710242
New
Hardcover
Quantity: > 20
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Condition: New. . Seller Inventory # 5AUZZZ0008DR_ns
Buy New
£ 19.70
Convert currency
Stock Image
King of Cuba: A Novel
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Hardcover. Condition: New. Brand New!. Seller Inventory # VIB1476710244
Buy New
£ 24.37
Convert currency
Stock Image
King of Cuba
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Hardcover. Condition: Brand New. 256 pages. 8.75x6.00x0.75 inches. In Stock. Seller Inventory # 1476710244
Buy New
£ 36.85
Convert currency