Diary of a combatant : from the Sierra Maestra to Santa Clara, Cuba, 1956-58

Diary of a combatant From the Sierra Maestra to Santa Clara, Cuba, 1956-58

Che Guevara, 1928-1967

Book - 2013

The publication of this title by Ocean Sur in Spanish in July 2011 provoked considerable international attention (including CNN). This never-before-published diary (comprising a dozen small notebooks) Ernesto Che Guevara kept during the guerrilla war in Cuba when he joined the struggle to overthrow the Batista dictatorship that led to the 1959 revolution has now been meticulously transcribed by his widow, Aleida March.Why did it take over fifty years for this diary to be published? Maybe because of some caustic comments Che makes in his usual brutally frank style. Maybe it was felt appropriate to wait until Fidel Castro had produced his own memoirs (now published by Ocean Press as "The Strategic Victory"). In launching the book in... Havana in July 2011, editor Maria del Carmen Ariet marked that it was "never clear whether or not Che wanted these diaries published" as he had reworked several pieces into his famous "Reminiscences of the Cuban Revolutionary War," on which Steven Soderbergh based part one of his epic movie "Che," starring Benicio Del Toro. Nevertheless, all Che's diaries--from his early "Motorcycle Diaries" and its sequel, "Latin America Diaries," through to his last diary from Bolivia--are extraordinary examples of his literary gift and his political incisiveness, in terms of his personal reflections, his criticisms and self-criticism, and his observations about others and events.

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Location Call Number   Status
2nd Floor 972.91063/Guevara Due Jan 8, 2025
Subjects
Guevara, Che, > 1928-1967 > Diaries.
Cuba > History > 1933-1959.
Cuba > Politics and government > 1933-1959.
Published
Melbourne, Vic. : Ocean Press 2013.
Language
English
Spanish
Main Author
Che Guevara, 1928-1967 (-)
Edition
First edition
Item Description
Translation of: Diario de un combatiente : de la Sierra Maestra a Santa Clara, 1956-1958.
Physical Description
358 pages, 40 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations, map, facsimiles ; 22 cm
Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN
9780987077943
  • Publisher's note
  • Ernesto Che Guevara: Biographical note
  • Chronology of the Cuban Revolutionary War
  • Map
  • Editor's Preface
  • Foreword: Che and the Cuban Revolutionary War: The Sierra and the Llano
  • Diary of a Combatant
  • Appendices: Documents from the Sierra Maestra
  • Documents from the campaign in Las Villas
  • Glossary
Review by Library Journal Review

Ocean Press takes another step in completing its Che Guevara publishing project with the release of this set of notebook diaries Che kept during his time as a guerrilla in Cuba from December 1956 through the end of 1958 in the Sierra Maestra mountains and beyond. Previously published in Spanish in 2011, as transcribed by his widow, Aleida March, this title contains Che's brief notations from seven small notebooks, one of which is missing (mid-August 1947 through mid-March 1958). He never edited the entries. His brief, fluid writings represent his actions and thoughts during this pivotal era of the Cuban Revolution. He made use of parts of these writings when he wrote Reminiscences of the Cuban Revolutionary War (1963, translated from Spanish in 1968). When this work is combined with Che's other writings, the real Guevara comes into focus as a revolutionary, a leader-and a remarkable figure. Editor Ariet has included a useful chronology and a most helpful biographical glossary, detailing many of the names Che introduces in these diaries. There is also a handful of miscellaneous documents but one single map-additional detailed maps would have greatly enhanced the presentation. VERDICT Taken alone the volume is valuable; as a part of Che's extensive writings it is indispensable.-Boyd Childress, formerly with Auburn Univ. Libs., AL (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

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