The Island of Cuba

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One hundred and fifty years after its first publication, this thrilling document remains one of the most important sources for the study of 19th-century Cuba and especially of slavery in the Caribbean. Cubans celebrate Humboldt as the second
discoverer
of the island, after Columbus, and the publication history of this book is a mirror of Cuba’s history. It was translated into several languages and two editions stood out: The Spanish version was banned in colonial Cuba and the American copy created a diplomatic incident. The translator, J.S. Thrasher, called openly for the American annexation of Cuba. He also deleted a chapter in which Humboldt condemned slavery in order to please the pro-slavery party. This new edition includes an English translation of the missing chapter on slavery, the letter by Humboldt complaining about the censorship and Thrasher’s answer, which were both published in the New York Daily Times, and Humboldt’s controversial preface. Luis Fernandez Martinez analysizes the publication history of Humboldt’s Cuba work, including a politically-motivated edition published under Fidel Castro, and emphasizes the Cuban point of view on Humboldt for the last 180 years.