Our Woman in Havana

After the United States embassy in Havana was closed in 1961, relations between the countries broke off. A thaw came in 1977 with the opening of a de facto embassy in Havana, the United States Interests Section—where Vicki Huddleston would serve under Presidents Clinton and George W. Bush. In her memoir of a diplomat at work, she tells gripping stories of face-to-face encounters with Fidel Castro and the initiatives she undertook, like the transistor radios she furnished to ordinary Cubans. Along with inside accounts of dramatic episodes such as the Elián González custody battle, Huddleston also evokes the charm of the island country and her affection for the Cuban people. Uniquely qualified to explain the inner workings of United States-Cuba relations, Huddleston examines the Obama administration's diplomatic opening of 2014, the mysterious "sonic" brain and hearing injuries suffered by United States and Canadian diplomats serving in Havana, and the rescinding of the diplomatic opening under the Trump administration. She recounts missed opportunities for détente, and the myths, misconceptions, and lies that have long pervaded United States-Cuba relations. Our Woman in Havana is essential for everyone interested in Cuba as well as policymakers and observers who study the stormy relationship with our near neighbor.