Who was Fidel Castro?In the summer of 1958, 300 bearded revolutionaries, led by a 30-year-old lawyer named Fidel, turned the tides of war in Cuba by defeating 12,000 soldiers in combat. How was this possible? If you want to understand Cuba of the last 60 years, you must first understand who Fidel Castro was, and the events of the Cuban Revolution of 1953 to 1959.The revolution began in 1953 with a botched insurrection in Santiago, Cuba. Fidel was captured and put on trial where he defended himself, finishing with the now immortal words: “Condemn me. It does not matter. History will absolve me.”Fidel was imprisoned, granted amnesty, exiled to Mexico, and then led an invasion of Cuba with 81 revolutionaries aboard a pleasure yacht called the Granma. Only 18 men survived. How did Fidel build thissmall band of guerillas into an army that would sweep to power in Cuba?Who was the rifle-toting woman who became Fidel’s most trusted advisor as well as his lover?These questions and more are answered in the thrilling I Am Cuba, a historically accurate novel detailing society, politics, war, and love in Cuba in the 1950s. I Am Cuba is a riveting and engrossing tale of the run-up to the Cuban Revolution and the ascendance of Fidel Castro. With rich historical detail and full, sympathetic characters, Matt Cost shows us how the rich man's son, that young lawyer from Havana, begins to build the Cuban dream. Not to be missed by fans of recent history and anyone else who loves compelling political stories rooted in real events. --Richard Cass, author of the prizewinning Elder Darrow Jazz Mystery series "I AM CUBA is a stunning historical novel about Fidel Castro's rise to power during the Batista regime. Author, Matt Cost, writes so vividly that he makes the reader feel like he's fighting in the mountains alongside Fidel and Che Guevara. A great read. I highly recommend this novel!" --Joseph Souza, author of "Pray for the Girl" and the upcoming "The Perfect Daughter", as well as others. "Matthew Langdon Cost gives the reader a clear and concise accounting of the revolution while telling a story. I Am Cuba shines by offering a well-executed balance between fiction and actual history. Vicente and Sophia come across as believable, well-developed characters with hearts and souls. Their interaction gives the novel depth and invests the reader in their well-being during these tumultuous times in Cuba's history.... This book is essential reading for anyone who wants to find out more about the Cuban revolution and follow the exploits of Vicente and Sophia. Will they survive the war? Read and find out!" ~Readers Favorites "It is apparent how much research and works the author has done to provide such a rich story. One of the essential aspects of historical fiction is for it to be factually correct and plausible. This adds to the work's richness and enables the reader to feel along with the characters and storyline. The author superbly executed this matter." ~Review Tales I wrote the first draft of this historical novel thirty years ago. It was inspired by a college history professor, but upon completion, I realized it needed work. I spent the time honing my craft and awaiting an opportunity to visit Cuba. A few years back I followed the revolutionary war trail of Fidel Castro across Cuba and finished the work. I hope you enjoy it. Who was Fidel Castro? In the summer of 1958, 300 bearded revolutionaries, led by a 30-year-old lawyer named Fidel, turned the tides of war in Cuba by defeating 12,000 soldiers in combat. How was this possible? If you want to understand Cuba of the last 60 years, you must first understand who Fidel Castro was, and the events of the Cuban Revolution of 1953 to 1959.The revolution began in 1953 with a botched insurrection in Santiago, Cuba. Fidel was captured and put on trial where he defended himself, finishing with the now immortal words: "Condemn me. It does not matter. History will absolve me."Fidel was imprisoned, granted amnesty, exiled to Mexico, and then led an invasion of Cuba with 81 revolutionaries aboard a pleasure yacht called the Granma. Only 18 men survived. How did Fidel build thissmall band of guerillas into an army that would sweep to power in Cuba?Who was the rifle-toting woman who became Fidel's most trusted advisor as well as his lover? These questions and more are answered in the thrilling I Am Cuba, a historically accurate novel detailing society, politics, war, and love in Cuba in the 1950s. Matt Cost (aka Matthew Langdon Cost) is the highly acclaimed, award-winning author of the Mainely Mystery series. The first book, Mainely Power , was selected as the Maine Humanities Council Read ME Fiction Book of 2020. This was followed by Mainely Fear , Mainely Money , and Mainely Angst. I Am Cuba: Fidel Castro and the Cuban Revolution was his first traditionally published novel. His other historical novels are Love in a Time of Hate (August 2021), and At Every Haz