Cuban Revelations: Behind the Scenes in Havana (Contemporary Cuba)

“A vivid, engaging exploration of Cuban politics, culture and economic life.”—**__America__**“Considerably deeper than much of the work on the subject. It takes on the challenge of describing what’s in a black box with energy and candor.”—VisitCuba.com “The most informative, accurate, insightful, detailed account available on twenty-first century Cuba.”—HavanaTimes.org“Marc Frank is the best foreign journalist reporting from Cuba today. We now have a behind-the-scenes look at the changes large and small taking place as the Cuban revolution molts from Fidel to Raúl to the next generation.”—Julia Sweig, author of__Cuba: What Everyone Needs to Know__“A must-read book to grasp what has been happening in Cuba over the past ten years.”—Wayne Smith, director of the Cuba Project, Center for International Policy“Frank enriches his fascinating reportage with his unparalleled access to expressive Cubans from all walks of life.”—Richard Feinberg, University of California, San Diego“With a sharp eye for human detail and a clear understanding of what makes Cuba tick, Frank’s narrative bears eloquent, balanced, and always sensitive witness to the troubled trajectory of Cuba from the ‘dark days’ of the 1990s economic collapse through to the challenging changes under Raúl. It genuinely gets ‘inside’ the otherwise confusing system and society, and is all the more welcome for that.”--Antoni Kapcia, coeditor of__The Changing Dynamic of Cuban Civil Society__“Gripping and insightful. It is rare indeed to find reporting as authoritative and well sourced as this about what remains an impenetrable and opaque regime.”—Michael Reid, author of__Forgotten Continent: The Battle for Latin America’s Soul__ As a U.S.-born journalist who has called Havana home for almost a quarter century, Mark Frank has observed in person the best days of the revolution, the fall of the Soviet bloc, the great depression of the 1990s, the stepping aside of Fidel Castro, and the reforms now being devised by his brother. In__Cuban Revelations__, Frank offers a first-hand account of daily life in Cuba at the turn of the twenty-first century, the start of a new and dramatic epoch for islanders and the Cuban diaspora.Examining the effects of U.S. policy toward Cuba, Frank analyzes why Cuba has entered an extraordinary, irreversible period of change and considers what the island’s future holds. The enormous social engineering project taking place today under Raúl’s leadership is fraught with many dangers, and__Cuban Revelations__follows the new leader’s efforts to overcome bureaucratic resistance and the fears of a populace that stand in his way.In addition, Frank offers a colorful chronicle of his travels across the island’s many and varied provinces, sharing candid interviews with people from all walks of life. He takes the reader outside the capital to reveal how ordinary Cubans live and what they are thinking and feeling as fifty-year-old social and economic taboos are broken. He shares his honest and unbiased observations on extraordinary positive developments in social matters, like healthcare and education, as well as on the inefficiencies in the Cuban economy.Ultimately,__Cuban Revelations__is an objective account by a reporter who has lived with the Cubans for many years as their old world falls apart and they set about trying to build a new one. “A vivid, engaging exploration of Cuban politics, culture and economic life.”— America “Considerably deeper than much of the work on the subject. It takes on the challenge of describing what’s in a black box with energy and candor.”—VisitCuba.com “The most informative, accurate, insightful, detailed account available on twenty-first century Cuba.”—HavanaTimes.org “Marc Frank is the best foreign journalist reporting from Cuba today. We now have a behind-the-scenes look at the changes large and small taking place as the Cuban revolution molts from Fidel to Raúl to the next generation.”—Julia Sweig, author of Cuba: What Everyone Needs to Know “A must-read book to grasp what has been happening in Cuba over the past ten years.”—Wayne Smith, director of the Cuba Project, Center for International Policy “Frank enriches his fascinating reportage with his unparalleled access to expressive Cubans from all walks of life.”—Richard Feinberg, University of California, San Diego “With a sharp eye for human detail and a clear understanding of what makes Cuba tick, Frank’s narrative bears eloquent, balanced, and always sensitive witness to the troubled trajectory of Cuba from the ‘dark days’ of the 1990s economic collapse through to the challenging changes under Raúl. It genuinely gets ‘inside’ the otherwise confusing system and society, and is all the more welcome for that.”--Antoni Kapcia, coeditor of The Changing Dynamic of Cuban Civil Society “Gripping and insightful. It is rare indeed to find reporting as authoritative and well sourced as this about what remains an impenetrable and opaque regime.”—Michael Reid, author of Forgotten Continent: The Battle for Latin America’s Soul As a U.S.-born journalist who has called Havana home for almost a quarter century, Mark Frank has observed in person the best days of the revolution, the fall of the Soviet bloc, the great depression of the 1990s, the stepping aside of Fidel Castro, and the reforms now being devised by his brother. In Cuban Revelations , Frank offers a first-hand account of daily life in Cuba at the turn of the twenty-first century, the start of a new and dramatic epoch for islanders and the Cuban diaspora. Examining the effects of U.S. policy toward Cuba, Frank analyzes why Cuba has entered an extraordinary, irreversible period of change and considers what the island’s future holds. The enormous social engineering project taking place today under Raúl’s leadership is fraught with many dangers, and Cuban Revelations follows the new leader’s efforts to overcome bureaucratic resistance and the fears of a populace that stand in his way. In addition, Frank offers a colorful chronicle of his travels across the island’s many and varied provinces, sharing candid interviews with people from all walks of life. He takes the reader outside the capital to reveal how ordinary Cubans live and what they are thinking and feeling as fifty-year-old social and economic taboos are broken. He shares his honest and unbiased observations on extraordinary positive developments in social matters, like healthcare and education, as well as on the inefficiencies in the Cuban economy. Ultimately, Cuban Revelations is an objective account by a reporter who has lived with the Cubans for many years as their old world falls apart and they set about trying to build a new one. As A U.s.-born Journalist Who Has Called Havana Home For Almost A Quarter Century, Mark Frank Has Observed In Person The Best Days Of The Revolution, The Fall Of The Soviet Bloc, The Great Depression Of The 1990s, The Stepping Aside Of Fidel Castro, And The Reforms Now Being Devised By His Brother. In Cuban Revelations, Frank Offers A First-hand Account Of Daily Life In Cuba At The Turn Of The Twenty-first Century, The Start Of A New And Dramatic Epoch For Islanders And The Cuban Diaspora. Examining The Effects Of U.s. Policy Toward Cuba, Frank Analyzes Why Cuba Has Entered An Extraordinary, Irreversible Period Of Change And Considers What The Island's Future Holds. The Enormous Social Engineering Project Taking Place Today Under Raúl's Leadership Is Fraught With Many Dangers, And Cuban Revelations Follows The New Leader's Efforts To Overcome Bureaucratic Resistance And The Fears Of A Populace That Stand In His Way. -- Publisher Website. Part I. Revolution On The Ropes (1994-2008) -- Trauma -- Castro Falters -- The Big Bang -- Raúl Pinch-hits -- Fidel Steps Down -- From Clinton To Bush -- Part Ii. Raúl Castro In Power (2008-2009) -- Conservative Reformers -- Computers, Cell Phones, Hotels, And More -- Disaster, Man-made And Natural -- Obamamania -- Old Foes Get Reacquainted -- Shock And Awe, Raúl Style -- Part Iii. The Road To Reform (2009-2010) -- Blueprint For Survival -- Stealth Reform -- Obama Versus Raúl -- Wired -- Castro, The Cardinal, And The Damas -- Fidel, Born Again -- Part Iv. Brave New World (2010-2013) -- Pink Slips And Permits -- Requiem For The Command Economy -- On The Road Again -- Forward March -- Cheers And Jeers. Marc Frank. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. In Cuban Revelations , Marc Frank offers a first-hand account of daily life in Cuba at the turn of the twenty-first century, the start of a new and dramatic epoch for islanders and the Cuban diaspora. A U.S.-born journalist who has called Havana home for almost a quarter century, Frank observed in person the best days of the revolution, the fall of the Soviet Bloc, the great depression of the 1990s, the stepping aside of Fidel Castro, and the reforms now being devised by his brother. Examining the effects of U.S. policy toward Cuba, Frank analyzes why Cuba has entered an extraordinary, irreversible period of change and considers what the island's future holds. The enormous social engineering project taking place today under Raúl's leadership is fraught with many dangers, and Cuban Revelations follows the new leader's efforts to overcome bureaucratic resistance and the fears of a populace that stand in his way. In addition, Frank offers a colorful chronicle of his travels across the island's many and varied provinces, sharing candid interviews with people from all walks of life. He takes the reader outside the capital to reveal how ordinary Cubans live and what they are thinking and feeling as fifty-year-old social and economic taboos are broken. He shares his honest and unbiased observations on extraordinary positive developments in social matters, like healthcare and education, as well as on the inefficiencies in the Cuban economy.