New Books Network Ada Ferrer, "Cuba: An American History" (Scribner, 2021)
Oct 19, 2025
Ada Ferrer, a historian at NYU and author of "Cuba: An American History," dives into Cuban history by amplifying marginalized voices. She shares surprising discoveries about the intertwining histories of Cuba and the U.S., illustrating how perceptions of Cuba have evolved over time. Ferrer discusses the impacts of the 1959 revolution, and the enduring themes of race and nationalism in Cuba's narrative. Her unique approach blends personal anecdotes with scholarly research, aiming to reshape how we view Cuba's complex identity.
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Personal Perspective Shapes The History
- Ada Ferrer wrote this book as both a historian and someone who lived between Cuba and the U.S.
- That personal vantage deepens her reading and shapes the book's aim to translate Cuban history for American readers.
U.S. Influence Reaches Back Centuries
- Ferrer found surprising long-standing U.S. involvement in Cuba, revealed by striking anecdotes.
- These moments show U.S.-Cuba ties run deep and shaped Cuban politics far earlier than many expect.
Vice Presidential Inauguration On Cuban Soil
- Ferrer cites the inauguration of a U.S. vice president on a Cuban sugar plantation as a striking example.
- That anecdote encapsulates economic ties, slavery's legacy, and U.S. expansionism toward Cuba.
