Summary
Since Fidel Castro staged a coup half a century ago and assumed power of Cuba in 1959, the United States has been obsessed with this small island nation, only 90 miles south of the Florida Keys. America's fixation on Cuba has only grown due to the large waves of Cuban immigrants and Castro's larger-than-life persona. But because of the country's isolation, the island and its people have remained a mystery. Cuba is among the most literate countries in Latin America, with a literacy rate of 99.8 percent. Its healthcare system compares favorably with those in developed nations, and life expectancy ranks third in the Americas, behind only Canada and Chile, and ahead of the United States. In 2006, Castro transferred powers over to his brother, Raul, who has promised to remove some of the restrictions that have limited the average Cuban's daily life. This revised edition of Cuba takes readers through the country's storied history, its people, and what the future holds for this island nation.
Specifications
Full-color photographs and maps. Facts at a glance. History at a glance. Bibliography. Further reading. Index.
About the Author(s)
Richard A. Crooker is a geography professor at Kutztown University in Pennsylvania, where he teaches physical geography, oceanography, map reading, and climatology. He received a Ph.D. in geography from the University of California, Riverside. Dr. Crooker is a member of the Association of American Geographers and the National Council for Geographic Education. He has received numerous research grants, including three from the National Geographic Society, and published books and articles on a wide variety of geographical topics.
Zoran Pavlović is a cultural geographer currently working at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater. He is the author, coauthor, or contributor to numerous Chelsea House geography books, including Spain, Poland, and Greece in the Modern World Nations series. He was born and raised in southeastern Europe.