Cuba, Between History and Legend/Cuba, entre la historia y la leyenda by Oscar M. Ramírez-Orbea, Ph.D. Search Amazon for other books by or about Oscar M. Ramírez-Orbea, Ph.D.. Rating: Reviewed by: John L. Hoh, Jr.

This delightful book, by Dr. Oscar M. Ramírez-Orbea, author of Cuba, I Remember You, takes the reader back on another delightful journey to the author's native homeland, Cuba. This book does not go back to the author's life or to the politics of Cuba. Rather this book straddles the history, legend, and lore of that island nation. It is difficult to classify this book. The author explains it this way:

The book you have in your hands is not a history book. It is also not a book about Cuban legends. Its subject matter lies somewhere in that gray in-between. Each story is based unquestionably on fact, at least in part. There is concrete historical evidence for some aspects-and sometimes for most aspects-of each tale. Around these historical facts, however, the Cuban imagination (as well as this author's own interpretation and rendition of events) has created a pearl of legend by layering over each grain of truth. It is in this world of unavoidable and delightful ambiguity that the characters, events, and settings narrated in this book live and breathe.

This book contains nine stories with a basis of history but layered with legend and myth. The nine stories are "The Mouth of Hell / La boca del Infierno," "Kidnapped y Pirates! / ¡Secuestrado por piratas!!," "Isn't It Romantic? / ¡Ay, pero qué romántico!," "Aimless / Sin brújula," "The Hardest Thing / Lo más duro," "Letter to an Unknown Woman / Carta a una desconocida," "Heaven-sent / Don del Cielo," "The Secret / El secreto," and "The Interrogation / El interrogatorio."

As you can tell this book, like Cuba, I Remember You, is written in both Spanish and English. This makes it possible for both English and Spanish speakers to read this book. It can also be employed to teach English as a Second Language (ESL) or for English-speaking students to learn Spanish. There is a beauty to the Spanish prose that makes reading the Spanish, even if I am not conversant in the language, a romantic adventure.

The first story, "The Mouth of Hell / La boca del Infierno," is about a lady known as Leonarda who was tried for "public scandal." The "public scandal" is that she is being tried, it appears, for witchcraft. The time of this trial? The author informs us: "After all, this was Cuba in 1682. At about this time, up in the English colonies, around Massachusetts, there was a town named Salem. And at their witch trials, they also would have no air conditioner and no ceiling fans." This was also, I might add, a time of great religious upheaval in the wake of the Reformation and societal upheaval and religious wars in Europe were rampant. The colonies did not escape those consequences.

"Kidnapped y Pirates! / ¡Secuestrado por piratas!!" takes place at what is today known as Guantánamo Bay. It depicts the bravery of a bishop caring for his flock during and after a pirate attack on their town.

"Isn't It Romantic? / ¿Ay, pero qué romántico?" relates the tale of unrequited love and the beautiful Lolita Randon felled by smallpox. It is a legend about a mysterious wooden sign at the pauper's grave of Lolita.

"Aimless / Sin brújula" is a backwards chronology of Joseph Diaz Pimienta, who was burned at the stake by the Holy Office of the Inquisition on the 25th of July, 1720, in Seville, Spain. It is written as if he were dictating his final words as he was being tied, then burned, at the stake.

"The Hardest Thing / Lo más duro" relates the origins of the Holy Sepulcher of Camagüey and the Camagüeyan tradition of the Holy Sepulcher procession. It is a touching tale about redemption and forgiveness.

"Letter to an Unknown Woman / Carta a una desconocida" is a letter written by an accused priest during the religious persecutions from the 1820's to the 1840's, although the events sound as if the persecutions happened when the communist Castro government assumed power.

"Heaven-sent / Don del Cielo" is a tale "told" by a vulture and his life and travels. There is a sense of anthropomorphism in the tale.

"The Secret / El secreto" begins "Bishop Morell opened his eyes and realized he had died." This reminds me of my mother admonishing against some sort of activity because I might "wake up dead." But what is the secret? That's for you to find out. I did like the Hebrew phrases uttered in this tale-I guess the inclusion of Hebrew (and in other tales Latin) makes this book a polyglottal codex!

"The Interrogation / El interrogatorio" talks about Cuba's patron saint, the Lady of Charity and her festival, and how Ernest Hemingway, a non-believer, donated his Nobel Prize for Literature to the shrine of the Lady of Charity. The tale relates the interrogation of Juan Moreno, but perhaps with a bit of anachronism? The notes say the interrogation occurred in the 1600's, but the narrative has the officer asking Moreno if he would like some Starbucks coffee. Or is this a way to straddle the ancient with the modern?

Each story concludes with an Epilogue followed by notes. The notes give a historical account of the tale as well as resources to follow up on researching the event, people, and places.

The book also finishes with a section listing further resources in English and Spanish for the reader who wants to know more about Cuban history, legend, people, and literature.

Overall the stories capture the rich imagery and romance of the island nation. They follow the Greek ideal to seek "the good, the true, and the beautiful." The romance of Cuba's names come through. The book also contains many pictures, photos, and paintings relating to the history, geography, lore, and faith of the nation and people of Cuba. The stories tell of the struggles and persecutions of the people, especially the minorities of race or faith.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading the stories and came away with a renewed respect for the people who are one of our southern neighbors.