Reseñas proporcionadas por Syndetics

Publishers Weekly Review

Bourne, a psychiatrist with experience in numerous government posts, was granted access to Cuban government archives and talked with many people who have worked closely with Castro. The result, in addition to being a first-class chronological biography, provides insight into the Cuban leader's psyche, especially in regard to his lifelong identification with his father, the influence of his Catholic upbringing, and the extent to which his support of revolutionary causes outside Cuba can be seen as tied to psychological needs. This first full biography of Castro in 15 years presents new material about the Bay of Pigs and the 1962 missile crisis as seen from the Cuban point of view. One of the book's many surprises is the revelation of the depth of Cuban resentment over Khrushchev's failure to involve Cuba in the settlement of the missile crisis. Bourne also traces Castro's recent emergence as a mediator rather than protagonist in Third World conflicts. Major ad/promo. (September 8) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

CHOICE Review

Bourne's general tone and conclusions are more favorable to Castro than those of most authors who have published on the subject in this country. A confessed personal fascination with Castro and years of closely observing the Cuban dictator have resulted in some very interesting analyses of the Bay of Pigs affairs, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the role of Castro as a New World ally of Soviet Russia, and his effort to be a leader in the developing Third World. Much of the book is based upon new information made available by the Cuban government archives and various individuals, both inside and outside the Castro government. Bourne has obviously done exhaustive research. He evaluates Castro as a ``leading figure of the 20th century,'' despite the relatively minor importance of Cuba in the world. Bourne, however, really does not deal with the significance of the tens of thousands of Cubans who took flight, an educated and professional elite whose departure contributed to years of economic and cultural deprivation. Summary executions, imprisonment, and mistreatment of thousands of others tend to be downplayed. Moreover, other writers have found that Cuba's position as a Soviet satellite probably prevented Castro's recognition as a true leader of the Third World. Nevertheless, this is a very well written book and contributes significantly to Cuban historiography. College, university, and public libraries.-L.O. Ealy, emeritus, Rider College

Booklist Review

A psychological portrait of the Cuban leader that is particularly revealing in its treatment of early influences on the young revolutionary. (Je 15 86)

Notas de autor provistas por Syndetics

Peter G. Bourne is a physician, anthropologist, biographer, government official, and diplomat. He received his M.D. degree from Emory University in 1962 and received an M.A. in anthropology from Stanford University in 1969.

Bourne served three years in the U.S. Army in Vietnam. He received the Bronze Star, the Air Medal, and the Combat Medics Badge. After returning to the U.S., Bourne went to work in the office of Georgia governor Jimmy Carter. He was an alternate delegate to the 1972 Democratic Convention and later became deputy campaign director during Carter's run for president. When Carter was elected, Bourne became special assistant to the president for health issues and later director of the Office of Drug Abuse Policy.

In 1979, Bourne was made Assistant Secretary General of the United Nations where he directed the International Drinking and Sanitation Decade, a ten-year effort to provide the people of the world with clean drinking water. Bourne has been active on the boards of several major charities and has served as professor and chairman of the department of psychiatry at St. George's University Medical School in Grenada. He is the co-founder of Global Water, an organization dedicated to providing clean drinking water for developing countries.

Bourne has written more than 100 articles and authored or edited 10 books.

(Bowker Author Biography)