Author(s): Anthony DePalma

Current Affairs

This is a fascinating look at Fidel Castro's ascent to power, and the perpetually complicated relationship between politics and the press. In 1957, Herbert L Matthews of the "New York Times", then considered one of America's premiere foreign correspondents, tracked down Fidel Castro in Cuba's Sierra Maestra mountains, and returned with what was considered the scoop of the century. His heroic portrayal of Castro, who was then believed dead, had a powerful effect on American perceptions of Cuba, both in and out of the government, and profoundly influenced the fall of the Batista regime. When Castro emerged as a Soviet-backed dictator, Matthews became a scapegoat; his paper turned on him, his career foundered and he was accused of betraying his country. In this fascinating book, "New York Times" reporter Anthony DePalma investigates the Matthews case to reveal how it contains the story not just of one newspaperman but of an age, not just how Castro came to power, but how America determines who its enemies are.