Fidel Castro to publish new book in August

Fidel Castro to publish new book in August
By Shasta Darlington, CNN
July 27, 2010 -- Updated 2022 GMT (0422 HKT)

Castro on Tuesday said he would publish a new book in August on the
fighting more than 50 years ago between his ragtag rebels and the
10,000-strong army under former dictator Fulgencio Batista.

In an essay published Tuesday on the state-run website,
www.cubadebate.cu, Castro said the book will be called "The Strategic
Victory."

"I didn't know whether to call it 'Batista's Last Offensive' or 'How 300
Defeated 10,000,' which would sound like a science fiction story," he said.

Castro said the 25 chapters contain photos, maps and illustrations of
the weapons used during a series of battles that lasted 74 days in 1958
and paved the way for his bearded revolutionaries to declare victory on
January 1, 1959.

"The enemy suffered more than 1,000 losses, more than 300 of them deaths
and 443 taken prisoner," he wrote.

Castro went on to rule Cuba for 47 years until he was sidelined by
illness in 2006. He has spent most of the last four years in seclusion,
writing frequent essays called "Reflections of Comrade Fidel" for
state-run media.

In recent weeks, he has re-emerged on the public stage, making seven
public appearances.

On Monday, Cuba celebrated the 57th anniversary of the launching of
Castro's Revolution. He failed to appear at that event in central Cuba
despite high expectations, but he paid tribute at a small ceremony in
Havana to the rebels who were killed.

Castro also held lengthy talks with a group of artists. Both events were
later broadcast on state TV.

Castro said he would now start work on a book covering the second half
of the fighting, called "The Final Strategic Counteroffensive."

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/07/27/cuba.castro.book/?hpt=T2#fbid=sKDSH0osiG8