Book shows Cuba’s formative role in the life of Churchill
HAVANA: Winston Churchill’s 1895 journey to Cuba was far more formative than has been previously understood, a new book purports, saying Cuba is where the 20-year-old junior officer discovered he had courage under fire and confirmed his own sense of greatness.
In Churchill Comes of Age: Cuba 1895, author Hal Klepak traces characteristics that made Churchill famous to his 18 days in Cuba, where he was on loan from the British army to observe colonial Spain’s defence against independence fighters.
History previously recorded that Churchill saw combat in Cuba and discovered the siesta, which would later help him keep long hours as British prime minister during World War Two.
But Klepak, a former Canadian military officer, argues previous works overlooked how influential the Cuban venture was, including the months of manoeuvring Churchill needed to land his assignment.
With his Cuba experience he became a war correspondent, political analyst, strategist and liaison with a foreign army, all for the first time. His writings start to show legendary humour. He discovers rum and Cuban cigars’ breadth and quality.