The History of Havana

by Dick Cluster, Rafael Hernández

For close to 500 years, Havana has been a cultural crossroads, a meeting point for people from the Americas, Europe, and Africa. Here, in a revised and updated edition of a classic history co-written by a Cuban and an American, is the definitive chronicle of the "Pearl of the Antilles."

"The name of the city", write the authors, "La Habana or La Havana, comes from Spanish transcriptions of an indigenous word. But in ensuing years many came to believe that the name derived from haven and harbor, which the city has always been in both a physical and a social sense". Since its founding in 1519, Havana has drawn people from all over the world, including explorers, entrepreneurs, refugees, and the exiled, to create a melting pot of influences and cultures with a very distinct history. 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, such as its idiosyncratic combination of territorialism and hospitality, or its proclivity for protest, reveal a drive for change as an integral element of its character. Drawing on oral histories and cultural artifacts with grace and precision, The History of Havana chronicles the city's dynamic culture and politics, making it a superbly well-rounded account of the most intriguing city in the Caribbean.

Illustrated with black-and-white photographs and maps.

Genres: Nonfiction

320 pages, Paperback

First published December 18, 2006

About the author

What seems like mystery, says a reggae lyric by Jimmy Cliff, is only untold history. I've written both crime novels and history books, as well popular economics (another mystery, for sure). Some of these have been translated into Japanese, Danish, Hungarian, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Bulgarian.

Most recently, a few years living in Cuba led me to do translation myself, from Spanish to English, and to co-author a social history of Havana with a Cuban colleague. We tell what it's been like for people living in the Cuban capital over the past five centuries, and something about why.

You can find some of my translations linked via this author page; others won't show up here, because the industry is still ambivalent about translators, but if you search by my name you'll find them.

Reviews

[Daniel Kukwa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'll give this 3.5 stars -- it works best in its early chapters, presenting the lesser-known colonial origins of a city, which is a story drowned out by the later chapters of gangsters and Castro...and frankly, I find this earlier history much more fascinating. So do the authors, apparently, as they seem more interested and invested in the story of Havana before the explosion on the Maine.

[Kenny L · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fairly decent historical account of Havana, but at points laden with unnecessary detail. I don't care to know how much a loaf of bread cost in Havana in the 18th century. I did particularly enjoy the primary accounts of American soldiers in Havana.

[Gemini · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book took me such a long time to read. It was informative yet boring. After a few pages of reading it would just put me to sleep. Not what I intended but happened nonetheless. It was a struggle & I kept thinking it would get better but it didn't. There was a few things to learn which was good & also surprising. If you're a history buff this might be up your alley. There were so many things wrong that happened w/ Cuba but not all of it was their doing. The difficulties of being s small country.

[Travis Henriques · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very compressive look at Havana and Cuba from the standpoint of day to day life through various periods. The book does a good job in painting pictures of how life was. The first half of the book is a bit slow and dry, but the second half held my attention much more.

[Steven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Balanced and informative. I am relying a good deal on this history for my Hour of History: Cities Podcast on Havana (http://www.hourofhistory.com/).

[Lance McNeill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful

My grandfather was born in Havana and came to the US in the 1940s. I didn’t know much about Cuba or Havana’s history and this book filled a void.

[Natalia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is great in learning the origins of Cuba. However, I wish there was a bit more detail when it came to modern day Cuba specifically in the years of Bastiata - Raul.

[Russell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A history of a fascinating city. Havana radiates a wonderful sense of itself.

[Lois Flaherty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very readable - takes you from the Spanish conquest to the present. All the missteps made by the US are documented. Helpful in understanding how we got to where we are today.