Before the Revolution: The Untold Story of 100 Years of Friendship Between the United States and Cuba by Mario Cartaya brings to us the tale of Cuba from the time it was colonized till the Communist Revolution. The book focuses on the era of prosperity and the extensive friendship between the United States and Cuba.
Table of Contents
Review
Before the Revolution: The Untold Story of 100 Years of Friendship Between the United States and Cuba by Mario Cartaya takes us on a journey through Cuban history. It chronicles the history of Cuba from the time she was colonized by the Spanish till Fidel Castro’s Revolution and the establishment of his government.
Mario Cartaya presents an honest account of Cuba’s origins. He does not shy away from talking about the fate of the original Ciboney and Taíno Indians residents of the beautiful island. Soon after being discovered by the Spanish, Cuba became their prized jewel. The island prospered and developed an eclectic population consisting of Spanish expatriates, African workers, and the few remaining original Indians. Soon, the Cubans grew disgruntled by the Spanish Rule and began their struggle for freedom. It was the United States of America that came to their aid. This marked the beginning of a healthy friendship. After independence, the new country’s economic and healthcare sectors were in shambles. It was the US that helped Cuba stand on its own two feet. However, the United States did not annex the profitable island. From 1902 to 1960, the two countries enjoyed an era of fruitful friendship that brought prosperity to many of those involved. Cuba had the back of the US during both WWI and WWII. The US helped Cuba stabilize her banking system and strengthen her commerce. From the sugar industry and telecommunications to baseball, medicine, and entertainment, the two countries worked in tandem in every field. The US was also there for Cuba when she faced political upheaval. However, like all good things, this era of prosperity came to an end when Fidel Castro gained power and the revolutionary government declared the US to be Cuba’s archnemesis.
In Before the Revolution: The Untold Story of 100 Years of Friendship Between the United States and Cuba, Mario Cartaya provides a detailed account of everything. It is very evident that this book is close to Cartaya’s heart. He has dedicated the book to his beloved father. Cartaya himself was born in Cuba before the Revolution. Though he was a child, he clearly remembers his time there. I really enjoyed his personal insights. I could feel his love for his father as he reminisced about the time when the two of them went to watch baseball matches. His account of his father’s American business partners made his points all the more relatable. I have to say that I really enjoyed the anecdote about the ninety-year-old former Cuban super farmer who still lived in the erstwhile town of Hershey. Speaking of the town of Hershey, I appreciate Cartaya for sharing about his Mateo family who lived there between 1925 and 1940. These personal touches made the book all the more special for me.
The book is well-written. In fact, I would call it a treasure trove of information for all history buffs. It is undeniable that Before the Revolution: The Untold Story of 100 Years of Friendship Between the United States and Cuba is well-researched. Cartaya provides sources for the facts presented in this book. The detailed credits and endnotes at the end of the book provide references for the material presented.
I really like how Cartaya provides a “My Take” section and a “Buildings Left Behind” section at the end of the chapters. I found these to be really insightful. The real-life photographs included in the book really elevated it in my opinion. The images literally painted a picture of the era in my mind. I truly appreciate them.
Before the Revolution: The Untold Story of 100 Years of Friendship Between the United States and Cuba by Mario Cartaya taught me a lot about Cuba and her relationship with the United States of America. I learned about the Cuban heroes of independence and Cuban culture. Also, I got to know just how much the Revolution disrupted the Cuban way of life. I highly recommend this book to all history lovers. Political science students should definitely give this book a try. It’s a must-read for anyone with Cuban heritage.
About the Author
Mario Cartaya, born in Havana in 1951, fled Cuba for the United States at nine. He became an architect and founded a Fort Lauderdale firm in 1979, which he led for 43 years. His life and designs entered the Congressional Record in 2019. He retired in 2022 to pursue writing.
Book Details
- Title: Before the Revolution: The Untold Story of 100 Years of Friendship Between the United States and Cuba
- Author: Mario Cartaya
- Genre: Historical Nonfiction
- Theme: History, Political Science, Diplomacy, Cuba, The United States
- Publication Date: August 18, 2026
- ISBN or ASIN: B0HGQBMZWG
- Number of Pages: 323
- Minimum Audience Age: 14
Book Themes
(Note: 0=none, 1=a few, 2=considerable, 3=pronounced, 4=excessive)
- Sexual themes: 1
- Religious themes: 1
- Violence, self-harm, etc.: 3
- Crude language, expletives, swearing, etc.: 0
- Other adult themes: 2
Rating
- Content: 5 stars
- Writing Style: 5 stars
- Appeal to Target Audience: 5 stars
- Uniqueness: 5 stars
- Editing: 4 stars
- Other factors: 5 stars
- Overall: 4.83 out of 5 stars
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