The Real Fidel Castro is a first-hand account, and an authoritative biography, that provides a clear and dispassionate analysis of Castro, without the political rhetoric that typically accompanies any discussion of the man. The book describes the key events that shaped Castro's life from his political activism as a student, his years as a communist revolutionary and guerrilla fighter alongside Che Guevera, to his decades in power surviving the Cold War, assassination attempts, the missile crisis, and the collapse of the Soviet Union.

As British Ambassador to Cuba in the early nineties, a time when Cuba's economy contracted by a third, and many outside observers were anticipating the collapse of the Cuban government, Sir Leycester Coltman had privileged access to Castro, with regular contact and frequent discussions. These conversations at a critical juncture in Cuba's history provide a unique insight into the thoughts, personality, and motivations of the Cuban leader.

"So bravo Sir Leycester Coltman, former British Ambassador to Havana, who has written a masterfully even-handed account of one of the most compelling, enduring and obnoxious statesmen of modern times. While it does not resolve Fidel's many contradictions, The Real Fidel Castro holds them in tension, building up a convincing, nuanced picture in finely-honed, pin-sharp prose. Not just Castro but Cuba and its revolution swing sharply into focus." - The Tablet

"One of the most striking revelations of the Sir Leycester Coltman's engrossing study of the Cuban leader is just how central violence has always been to his life. . . . Meticulously researched and compiled, The Real Fidel Castro is written with a diplomat's, rather than a writer's pen. . . . It is fascinating material-how could it not be? . . . This book helps show why Castro was wrong . . . about so many fundamental truths of human existence." - Justin Marozzi, Literary Review

"[Coltman] has produced a rare commodity-a balanced view of Castro. . . . This book is very well-written and easily read." - Anthony Daniels, Sunday Telegraph

"From childhood rebellion to international confrontation, Coltman's analysis of this obstinate and aggressive politician remains clear and impressively impartial."-The Observer

"Instructors looking for a suitable biography of Castro for use in the classroom should consider this text."-Paul J. Dosal, The Historian

"[An] assessment of the revolutionary leader...that attempts to provide a balanced view of the man." - Sunday Times
About the Author: The late Sir Leycester Coltman was a member of HM Diplomatic Service for over thirty years. He became Head of the Latin America Department at the Foreign Office in 1989 and served as British Ambassador to Cuba (1991-1994) and Colombia (1994-1998). As British ambassador to Cuba in the early nineties he had a unique opportunity to observe and study Fidel Castro during a critical period in Cuba's history, both during and immediately after the collapse of the Soviet Union.