Three Nights in Havana
Pierre Trudeau, Fidel Castro and the Cold War World
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On January 26, 1976, Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau embarked on
his historic three-day visit to Havana, becoming the first leader of a NATO
country to visit Cuba since the crippling 1960 American economic embargo. The
trip was widely denounced, especially for its timing, as Castro had recently
sent Cuban soldiers to fight a civil war in Angola. As the Americans watched
warily, Trudeau, accompanied by his wife, Margaret, and baby Michel, was greeted
in Havana by 250,000 cheering Cubans and a 30- foot poster of himself. “Long
live Prime Minister Fidel Castro!” Trudeau would famously shout at the love-in.
Margaret would declare Castro “the sexiest man alive.”
In this fascinating first-ever portrait of an unusual
relationship between two enigmatic world leaders, author and historian Robert
Wright brings to life three critical days when Canadian politics played on the
international stage. Wright describes how, long before he was prime minister,
Trudeau had attempted to canoe to Cuba, and how Castro visited Montreal as a
young revolutionary, later welcoming FLQ terrorists to his tiny island. In a
revealing look at their personalities and political ideologies, Wright shows how
the two leaders, despite their official positions as allies of rival empires,
had determinedly refused to exist merely as handmaidens to the United States.
This fact, he asserts, is what brought them to power, and what drew them to each
other.
Wright draws on extensive insight from political commentators
and historians as many interviewees talk candidly for the first time. A book
that will tap into our continuing fascination with Pierre Trudeau and our
interest in the future political course of Cuba, Three Nights in Havana
is an intimate and insightful portrait of two controversial and often
misunderstood figures and their place in history.
Pierre Trudeau and Fidel Castro became friends despite their
differences. They agreed to disagree; the same is true of Canada and Cuba. And
it all began on a tiny coral key off Cuba’s southern shore in 1976, with the
cheer heard round the world: “ Viva el primer ministro Fidel Castro!”—from
Three Nights in Havana
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Author Extras
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Critical Praise for
Three Nights in Havana
"An elegant, wonderfully nuanced account of the remarkable relationship between Fidel Castro and Pierre Trudeau. There are poignant portraits of the solitary Trudeau and his capricious, hippie-bride Margaret, whose defiance of convention both appalled and entertained. Also a terrific history of the two U.S. neighbours who defied the superpower sandwiched between them and reaped the diplomatic and economic dividends from doing so."
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Ann Louise Bardach, author of Cuba Confidential: Love and Vengeance in Miami and Havana
"It is unusual for statesmen to become close friends, particularly when they face each other across a gaping ideological divide. Nevertheless, Robert Wright reveals that Pierre Trudeau and Fidel Castro developed an unusually intense personal and intellectual intimacy that literally lasted till death did them part and the Cuban leader came to bid farewell at his Canadian friend's funeral. While exploring their intriguing, decades-long relationship, Wright weaves into his story such central issues of the times as the Kennedy-Khrushchev Cuban missile crisis, Castro's military intervention in Angola, and CIA-sponsored terrorism against Cubans at home and in Canada. The Trudeaus' rollercoaster marriage and Fidel's flirtation with Margaret add an intensely human dimension to this easily digestible mix of biography, international relations, and politics."
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Stephen Clarkson, co-author of Trudeau and Our Times
"A fascinating account of the true friendship between Pierre Trudeau and Fidel Castro, set against the background of the Cold War and the all-enveloping animosity between Cuba and the United States. That the two came to be, in the words of former Canadian ambassador Mark Entwistle, 'intellectual soulmates,' against all the political calculations that should have ruled against such a relationship says something reassuring about the human condition. I enjoyed reading Three Nights in Havana and learned much from it."
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Dr. Wayne S. Smith, former Chief of Mission of the U.S. Interests Section in Havana
"While Wright is clearly an admirer of Trudeau, he is by no means an apologist, demonstrating an even hand in both praise and criticism.... Three Nights in Havana is detailed but never dull, analytical but never pedantic. It is circumscribed, but never narrow or myopic."
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Quill & Quire (starred review)
Reader Reviews from First Look
Great book about a very interesting time in Canadian history.
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William (Amherstburg, ON)
Great book about a very interesting time in Canadian history.
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William (Amherstburg, ON)
I found this book to be a real eye-opener. Well-written, informative and in a style that keeps one wanting to read more, it is full of great insights into the relationships between Cuba, the US and Canada told in an honest, straight-forward manner, while maintaining a very human point of view. It is a great learning experience that keeps you engrossed in the history right through to the end!
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Kristy (Whitby, ON)
Well written, easily comsumable and balanced look at this interesting period of Canadian history. I enjoyed reading it from cover to cover.
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Scott (Toronto, ON)
“Three Nights in Havana” by Robert Wright is an enlightening read. Wright carefully builds the relationship between Castro and Trudeau in a way that was not taught in history classes. Through Wright’s narrative you gain an understanding of Castro’s strong and poignant stance at Trudeau’s funeral. Wright is able to get at the crux of their relationship and along the journey you develop a deeper understanding for both leaders, regardless of your initial personal opinion of the two men.
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Kris (Ridgetown, ON)
What a great look into the strong friendship between two of the greatest leaders in history. My hat is of to Mr. Wright for giving such a great portrayal.
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MATHEW (Edmonton, AB)
Excellent for both novice and professional historians.
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Dave (Lasalle, ON)
This book was an easy read, never too dry and helped to educate me on a subject that was not covered in school and I was to young to remember first hand. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
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Jana (Thunder Bay, ON)
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