Cuba, Old and New

The novel 'Cuba, Old and New' is a historical novel written about Cuba in the early 20th century, long before the present day political set up of the nation. It was the late 15th century when Christopher Columbus was at the height of his famed exploration voyages. Cruising in search of what he believed to be the eastern coast of Asia, he sighted the shore of Cuba on the morning of October 28, 1492. Having claimed the Island for Spain, it then took the explorer Velasquez to set up the first Spanish settlements in 1511. Following a long history of Spanish colonization, the fight for independence from Spaniard rule and the subsequent revolutions that took place, the nation of Cuba was formed. The book traces the key points in Cuban history till the start of the 20th century, providing a glimpse into Cuba's geographical, social and economic setup in the different periods until then.