First published 2001
C. Peter Ripley travels illegally to Cuba five times between 1991 and 1997, drawn by a fascination with Cuban culture that began in his youth. He arrives during the Special Period, when the Soviet Union's collapse has left the island struggling with soap shortages and one meal per day rations. Ripley encounters Pedro, a plumber who operates in black markets, Roberto, who exposes the discrimination within Cuba's tourism industry, and Neddie, a schoolteacher whose faith in the Revolution crumbles under economic hardship. His closest relationship develops with Paulo, a college student turned black marketeer who becomes his guide and friend. Paulo initially wants to escape Cuba, but through his interactions with Ripley, he transforms his outlook and chooses to stay, finding new dedication to his heritage and hope for Cuba's future. These relationships reveal a nation shaped by patria, where citizens maintain both fierce pride and conflicted feelings about their revolutionary ideals.
Genres: historical-fiction, 20th-century, 21st-century, international, cultural-studies
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
Setting: Cuba
Period: 1991-1997
272 pages · Paperback · University of Georgia Press