Graham Greene saw the Castros rise; Sarah Rainsford watched them leave.
From the street where Wormold, the hapless hero of Greene's Our Man in Havana , plied his trade, BBC foreign correspondent Rainsford reports on Fidel's reshaping of a nation, and what the future holds for ordinary Cubans now that he and his brother Raul are no longer in power.
Through tales of literary ghosts and forgotten reporters, believers in the revolution and dissidents, entrepreneurs optimistic about the new Cuba and the disillusioned still looking for a way out, Our Woman in Havana paints an enthralling picture of this enigmatic country as it enters a new era.

Rainsford, Sarah

Rock the Boat

Point Blank

United Kingdom and Ireland, United Kingdom

London, England, 2018

3, 2018-09-06

PS, 2018

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Includes bibliographical references and index.

<p>It was only when I reread Our Man in Havana that I realised I shared a street with the hapless spy hero of Graham Greene's novel. My office was just a short distance from the fictional vacuum cleaner store run by Jim Wormold... A piece of paper strapped to the swirling, rusted window bars announces that the lower floor flat is for sale. I wonder if the owner's selling up to leave Lamparilla and the 'ruins of Havana', like Wormold.<br></p><p>Sixty years ago, Graham Greene watched as the Cuban revolution unfolded and Batista's regime collapsed. Now, as the Castro era comes to a close, Sarah Rainsford, formerly the BBC's 'woman in Havana', reports on the lives shaped by Fidel's giant social experiment and the feelings of a nation ashis brotherRaul steps down.<br></p><p>Sheencountersentrepreneurs full of hope and the disillusioned still looking for a way out. She meetsa boxing legend who credits everything he has to the revolution andthedissidents caught on surveillance cameras every time they set foot outside their homes.<br></p><p>She also discovers the trailblazing work of Ruby Hart Phillips, New York Times correspondent in Havana 1937–61 – and a rare woman journalist in a macho world – who reported every step of the revolution and came face to face with Fidel himself.<br></p><p>Through these stories and those still being told, Our Woman in Havana weaves an enthralling, atmospheric portrait of this enigmatic country as it teeters, once more, at a historic crossroads.<br></p>

Sixty years ago, Graham Greene watched as the Cuban revolution unfolded and Batista's regime collapsed. Now, as the Castro era comes to a close, Sarah Rainsford, formerly the BBC's woman in Havana', reports on the lives shaped by Fidel's giant social experiment and the feelings of a nation as his brother Raul steps down.
She encounters entrepreneurs full of hope and the disillusioned still looking for a way out. She meets a boxing legend who credits everything he has to the revolution and the dissidents caught on surveillance cameras every time they set foot outside their homes.
She also discovers the trailblazing work of Ruby Hart Phillips, New York Times correspondent in Havana 1937-61 - and a rare woman journalist in a macho world - who reported every step of the revolution and came face to face with Fidel himself.
Through these stories and those still being told, Our Woman in Havana weaves an enthralling, atmospheric portrait of this enigmatic country as it teeters, once more, at a historic crossroads.

From Inside This Tightly Controlled One-party State, Sarah Rainsford, The Bbc's 'woman In Havana' For Three Years, Reports On Lives Shaped By Fidel Castro's Giant Social Experiment And How The Nation Feels As The Six-decade Rule Of The Castros Comes To An End. Seeking A Window Into Pre-revolutionary Cuba, She Searches For The Ghosts Of Graham Greene's Havana And The Paths Walked By Other Visiting Writers (chiefly Ruby Hart Phillips, Who Covered Cuba From 1937-1961 For The New York Times) Hooked On A City Where 'every Vice Was Permissible'. Through All These Stories And Those Still Being Told, 'our Woman In Havana' Weaves An Enthralling, Atmospheric Portrait Of This Enigmatic Country As It Teeters, Once More, At A Historic Crossroads-- Sarah Rainsford. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.

"From inside this tightly controlled one-party state, Sarah Rainsford, the BBC's 'woman in Havana' for three years, reports on lives shaped by Fidel Castro's giant social experiment and how the nation feels as the six-decade rule of the Castros comes to an end. Seeking a window into pre-revolutionary Cuba, she searches for the ghosts of Graham Greene's Havana and the paths walked by other visiting writers (chiefly Ruby Hart Phillips, who covered Cuba from 1937-1961 for the New York Times) hooked on a city where 'every vice was permissible'. Through all these stories and those still being told, 'Our Woman in Havana' weaves an enthralling, atmospheric portrait of this enigmatic country as it teeters, once more, at a historic crossroads." -- Provided by publisher

A BBC correspondent's insight into a nation on the brink of change

2022-09-09