Havana: Portrait of a City Book

Havana grew from a straggle of huts into the most brilliant metropolis in the Caribbean, unique in the vibrancy of its culture and the rich splendor of its architecture. Trace the development of Cuba's capital from the early sixteenth century to its heyday in the late nineteenth century in this beautifully illustrated look-back. In the course of its history, the city was coveted by Spain's European rivals, looted by pirates, occupied by British troops, and renowned as the center of the slave trade. It became a treasure house for the Spanish empire, as the wealth of the Indies passed through the city's wharves. You'll see how by the end of the nineteenth century, Havana truly had come of age--elegant, vivid and sophisticated. Combing detailed research with obvious affection for the city, Juliet Barclay has developed a clear, concise, and evocative history of Havana. With loads of color photographs and contemporary engravings and paintings, this historical survey offers a fitting tribute to this dynamic city. The Book has a forward by Eusebio Leal Spengler, the Historian of the City of Havana and an introduction by Francisco de Borbon y Escasany, Duke of Seville, whose ancestors were military governors of the island of Cuba.Read More