Travelers' Tales of Old Cuba: From Treasure Island to Mafia Den

There are few places in the world as colourful and interesting as Cuba, and the largest island in the Caribbean has been attracting travellers ever since it was 'discovered' by Columbus in 1492. This book begins with the pirate era, when Havana sheltered treasure ships, and became the gateway to the Spanish empire in the New World. It magnificently evokes the romance and drama as well as darker episodes of slavery and tyranny. Many pieces here were written during the American era, when the island was turned into a glittering tourist paradise for boat-rail commulers from Miami. Good tarvellers' stories should not only inform but also fire the imagination. These tales are full of the flavour and manners of the era to which they belong, reflecting the impressions of a diverse range of visitors to one of the most fascinating islands on earth.