Trading with the Enemy

This account of travel through Cuba ranges from coastal cities to mountain villages. The author mixes with literati and black marketeers, cane cutters and cigar rollers. He presents an insight into one of the world's few remaining Communist countries.

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}Havana knew me by my shoes, begins Tom Millers lively and entertaining account of more than eight months traveling through Cuba, from coastal cities to mountain villages, from the Bay of Pigs to both sides of the fence at Guantnamo, mixing with its literati and black marketeers, its cane cutters and cigar rollers. Granted unprecedented access to travel throughout the country, the author presents us with a rare insight into one of the worlds only Communist countries. Its best-known personalities and ordinary citizens talk to him about the U.S. embargo and tell their favorite Fidel jokes as they stand in line for bread at the Socialism or Death Bakery. Miller provides a running commentary on Cubas food shortages, exotic sensuality, and baseball addiction as he follows the scents of Graham Greene, Jos Marti, Ernest Hemingway, and the Mambo Kings. The result of this informed and adventurous journey is a vibrant, rhythmic portrait of a land and people too long shielded from American eyes. }