Publisher's Synopsis
The author recounts his experiences over five decades of the revolution. From a teenage combatant in the clandestine struggle and 1956-58 war that brought down the US-backed dictatorship, to serving three times as a leader of the Cuban volunteer forces that helped Angola defeat the army of white-supremacist South Africa, Zayas tells how he and other ordinary men and women in Cuba changed the course of history and, in the process, transformed themselves as well. "Telling his own life story of being a farm worker to leading armies, [Zayas] provides his own unique perspective on Cuba's revolution and much more. A fascinating delve into history from another perspective, Soldier of the Cuban Revolution would do well in international history collections."-Midwest Book Review "The book's strength rests … on Zayas's ability to present an account of the revolution through the eyes of someone who played a significant role in its initiation and consolidation."-Bulletin of Latin American Research "The book is a valuable source as it retells a part of Cuba's history rarely known in the US.… Recommended for public and academic libraries."-REFORMA Newsletter online review of the Spanish edition. "The work portrays revolutionary and post-revolutionary Cuba in an uncritically positive light, making this volume interesting, in an era of historical and political relativism, for its forthright pro-socialist narrative." -Research Book News "Presents events of the Cuban revolution through the eyes of a man who was there, playing an intimate role in these momentous events" -ForeWord Review "With this firsthand account of his involvement from the front lines of the Cuban Revolution, Zayas captures the heady days of late 1958-early 1959.… [R]ecommended for libraries strong on history and current events, as well for popular collections on Latin America's social movements." -Library Journal online review of the Spanish edition.
