Exile and Revolution - by Gerald E Poyo (Paperback)

About the Book

Poyo fought from afar for Cuban freedom for decades and by 1898 was considered to be the leader of the Cuban nationalist political movement in Key West. This book examines this place and time in Cuba and Florida's shared history.

Book Synopsis

"Poyo led nationalist efforts in the exile community in Florida for over thirty years and was a fierce advocate for the cause both before and after, as well as alongside, José Martí. Poyo's significant but largely unheralded role in the [Cuban] independence movement fully comes to light in this thoroughly researched book."--Anne Fountain, author of José Martí and U.S. Writers

"A must-read for those interested in the Cuban émigré colony of Key West during the nineteenth century and its involvement in the War of 1895 in Cuba."--Consuelo E. Stebbins, author of City of Intrigue, Nest of Revolution

José Dolores Poyo (1836-1911) was an activist, publisher, social critic, fundraiser, and foundational figure in the campaign for Cuban independence from Spain. His leadership and his mantra--"adelante la revolución" (forward the revolution)--mobilized an insurrectionist movement in Key West. His multidimensional grassroots work and his newspaper El Yara, the longest-lived Cuban exile newspaper of the nineteenth century, gave hope to a people who aspired to be liberated from the bonds of colonialism.

In Exile and Revolution, Gerald Poyo provides a comprehensive account of how his great-great-grandfather spurred the working-class community of Key West to transform their roles as supporting cast to become critical actors in the struggle for Cuban independence. The book reveals the depth of Cuba's longtime ties to Florida, the cigar industry, and its workers; the experience of Cubans in the American South; and the diplomatic intrigues involving Spain, Cuba, and the United States.

Review Quotes

"A richly descriptive account of the struggle for Cuban independence from the perspective of Key West, an important community of exiled Cuban revolutionaries that has received little attention in the historiography."--Bulletin of Spanish Studies "Gerald Poyo has penned a thoughtful text that explores Key West's role in the Cuban independence movement through the experiences of José Dolores Poyo, his great-great-grandfather . . . A welcome addition to the history of Cuban Key West."--Cuba Counterpoints "This beautifully crafted study captures Poyo's passionate commitment to Cuban independence, his extraordinary skills as a community organizer and editor in Key West, and his complex entanglements with Máximo Gómez, José Martí, and other nationalist leaders."--New West Indian Guide "An engaging and interesting case study. One gains a thorough understanding of Poyo and his exile community in Key West and its struggle for Cuban independence from Spain."-- Latin Americanist "Provides a great deal of valuable information about Cuban exiles, Key West, Cuba-United States relations, and the Cuban separatist movement."--H-Net "A well-researched and detailed monograph . . . [that] should be read by anyone interested in a better understanding of the nuances and intrigues of the Cuban émigré community that stirred and supported the revolution of 1895."--Journal of Southern History

About the Author

Gerald E. Poyo, professor of Latin American and U.S. Latino history at St. Mary's University, San Antonio, is the author of Cuban Catholics in the United States, 1960-1980 and "With All, and for the Good of All."