Our lady in Havana (Dreamstime.com)
1. Meet the people behind the Cuban myth
what kind of country is cuba really? Behind all the political intrigue and sanctions, who are the Cubans and why is tourism so important to this proud island?
You are reading: Hemingway books about cuba
in breath: stories from cuba, leila segal ventures into the heart of the country, behind faded facades with peeling paint and rusty american cars, to find her soul. the music, the sense of community and the remarkable strength of its people are the beating heart of a country with much to offer.
your literary tour guide: breathe: stories from cuba by leila segal
booktrail it: www.thebooktrail.com/book-trails/breathe-stories-from-cuba/
Cuba: The New Revolution? How to Stay with the Locals offers an intimate look at the monumental changes taking place in the country
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dancing in cuba (dreamstime.com)
2. feel the rhythm of the rumba and the whisper of the revolution
in rosanna ley’s last dance in havana, eliza and duardo dance the rumba and fall in love in the center of havana. but their fate is that they are not together because elisa is sent to england and duardo joins the revolution as a rebel.
This novel is an excellent guide to the sights and sounds of revolutionary Havana and poses the question facing every visitor to the island: does a passion for Cuba really leave a person?
The rumba was the dance of the liberated blacks on the island, as well as those who still worked on the sugar plantations, so the passion in the music represents the story of the people who share their story. the rumba club where duardo and elisa are said to dance is right next to the malecon, along san lazaro and between the alleys
your literary tour guide: last dance in havana by rosanna ley
booktrail it: www.thebooktrail.com/book-trails/last-dance-in-havana/
havana, cuba and local musicians: paul morrison goes in search of the musical heart of havana
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fishing near the morro castle, havana (dreamstime.com)
3. discover hemingway’s vat
Reading the old man and the sea, you can almost taste the salt and hear the waves gently lapping at the boats, rocking up and down in the harbor. Fortunately, some things never change. it is still a timeless part of small Cuban fishing villages today.
cojimar, a fishing port on the outskirts of havana, is apparently the inspiration behind the fishing village in the novel, as it was where hemingway used to go fishing on his boat el pilar.
See Also: 15 Engaging Spring Weather Books for Preschoolers
your literary tour guide: the old man and the sea – ernest hemingway
booktrail it: www.thebooktrail.com/book-trails/the-old-man-and-the-sea/
9 of the best things to do in Cuba: the pope would approve of them all
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Hemingway Library at Finca Vigia (dreamstime.com)
4. hemingway’s wives share their cuban secrets
In this story about Ernest Hemingway, his four wives share their secrets about their life with him, and the settings and inspiration for his novels. mrs hemingway by naomi wood creates a unique literary map of the cuban monuments, people and places that inspired hemingway, and that you too can follow. It is an extraordinary journey: it covers Key West, Paris and a house on the Cote d’Azur, but the heart of it lies in the magic that is Havana.
be sure to stop by finca vigía, hemingway’s home in san francisco de paula cuba. It was here that he wrote two of his most famous novels: For Whom the Bell Tolls and The Old Man and the Sea. a mobile party was also written there.
your literary tour guide: naomi wood’s mrs. hemingway
booktrail: www.thebooktrail.com/book-trails/mrs-hemingway/
10 Quirky American Festivals You Must Visit: Including Hemingway Days in Key West
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train passing through the valley of the mills (dreamstime.com)
5. on the rails from one end of Cuba to the other
after peter millar’s slow train to guantanamo ride, you’ll be hoping your own trips to cuba aren’t so “eventful”. but it’s a great way to cross the country and take in the dilapidated infrastructure, stunning scenery, and countless ways to try to book a ticket and even board a train.
Guantánamo is also a surprise, with a beautiful Herradura Bay and bars that sell ice-cold buccaneer beer.
my literary tourist guide: slow train to guantanamo by peter millar
booktrail it: www.thebooktrail.com/book-trails/slow-train-to-guantanamo/
the other bay of guantánamo– Polly Evans discovers a Cuban province of cultural diversity and surprising splendor
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See Also: Best Career Prep Books for Teens & High School Students – Kids&039 Money
street dancers in havana (dreamstime.com)
6. dance to the music of havana
Leonardo Padura’s
Havana Fever follows the trials and tribulations of former police officer Mario Conde, who now works as an antique bookseller. he discovers a secret inside a book, and if you head to the famous main square, you might as well find a hidden gem and see the literary side of havana for yourself…
There is also a literary landmark to visit. The Plaza de Armas is the oldest square in the city and is surrounded by numerous second-hand book stalls, a perfect book haven to find a literary memento of your visit. The memories here will last a lifetime, and as Mario, you might end up with a story you never expected.
my literary tourist guide: leonardo padura’s havana fever
booktrail it: www.thebooktrail.com/book-trails/havana-fever/
travel icon: old havana: your guide to the mix between Spanish, American and communist that is old havana.
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the national theater of havana at night (dreamstime.com)
7. discover cuba at night
“We travel, initially, to get lost; and we travel, next to meet. we travel to open our hearts and eyes and learn more about the world than our newspapers can accommodate.”
cuba and the night by pico iyer is the story of cuba during the reagan era and the days of the cold war. A journalist travels the world in search of a good story and ends up in Cuba, where he meets a local girl.
Not only will you want to trace the locations of your Cuban adventure, but also see them through the eyes of the photojournalist who illustrates the country’s contrasts, from capitalism to communism, and the daily lives of those who live here.
The Museum of the Revolution is located in the former presidential palace and is a great introduction to this world. You can see a section of the old city wall, displayed in front of the museum, as well as the Castro tank used during the Bay of Pigs debacle. is quite something to see in real life.
andour literary guide: cuba and the night – peak yesterday
booktrail it: www.thebooktrail.com/book-trails/cuba-and-the-night/
cuba: 7 trips to take before it’s too late – the best way to see a slice of the original cuba
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the booktrail is a literary travel agency, where you can ‘book’ your next literary adventure and read around the world. Find maps, travel guides, photo gallery reviews and much more to help inspire and enrich your next trip. For more information, visit www.thebooktrail.com
main image: mural in havana (dreamstime)
See Also: 7 Books About Death and Dying – Kindful Hospice