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rdlevitt's review against another edition
3.0
not the most eleganty written book, but informative and enjoyable.
cmcsd98's review against another edition
5.0
This book was a fantastic look at Havana and the mob in the 50s and 60s. If you love historical books that read like fiction, this one's great.
mimig312's review against another edition
4.0
3.75 Stars
Havana Nocturne is a comprehensive history of the American mob setting their foothold in Cuba after WW2. For approximately 15 years, they established a lucrative casino empire that ultimately collaspsed after Fidel Castro executed a successful coup of the government.
English goes into great detail by starting with the histories of the main mob players who had a vision of a casino-hotel empire in Havana. From Lucky Luciano, Meyer Lansky, and Santo Trafficante (to name a few) we learn how the delicate balance of mob power was organized, managed and sometimes was challenged in Havana. English also details the backgrounds of Bautista and Castro and provides a canvas of cultural, socio-economic and political factors that influenced their individual rise to power.
Though these personal histories are interesting, I found myself most intrigued by how the Havana tourist economy grew during this time. A unique music sound developed, the mamba, which spawned the tamer cha-cha-cha. World renown entertainers performed intimate shows that rivaled those of New York City and Las Vegas. Talented choreographers designed live shows that featured fully nude performers. Unfortunately, darker vices were also easily accessible. Live sex shows thrived in smaller clubs and prostitution was rampant.
The Havana tourist economy thrived during this short time through the will of the mob that molded the hotel casinos and the political influence they held over Cuba's president. Still, American politics and corporations held great influence and power over the country's economy. English breezes over these factors which I think is a missed opportunity in shaping the full picture of why the country's everyday people would be ready to overthrow their corrupt government.
Overall, an interesting history of the American mob and their short but influential time in Cuba.
Havana Nocturne is a comprehensive history of the American mob setting their foothold in Cuba after WW2. For approximately 15 years, they established a lucrative casino empire that ultimately collaspsed after Fidel Castro executed a successful coup of the government.
English goes into great detail by starting with the histories of the main mob players who had a vision of a casino-hotel empire in Havana. From Lucky Luciano, Meyer Lansky, and Santo Trafficante (to name a few) we learn how the delicate balance of mob power was organized, managed and sometimes was challenged in Havana. English also details the backgrounds of Bautista and Castro and provides a canvas of cultural, socio-economic and political factors that influenced their individual rise to power.
Though these personal histories are interesting, I found myself most intrigued by how the Havana tourist economy grew during this time. A unique music sound developed, the mamba, which spawned the tamer cha-cha-cha. World renown entertainers performed intimate shows that rivaled those of New York City and Las Vegas. Talented choreographers designed live shows that featured fully nude performers. Unfortunately, darker vices were also easily accessible. Live sex shows thrived in smaller clubs and prostitution was rampant.
The Havana tourist economy thrived during this short time through the will of the mob that molded the hotel casinos and the political influence they held over Cuba's president. Still, American politics and corporations held great influence and power over the country's economy. English breezes over these factors which I think is a missed opportunity in shaping the full picture of why the country's everyday people would be ready to overthrow their corrupt government.
Overall, an interesting history of the American mob and their short but influential time in Cuba.
mcf's review against another edition
3.0
The first half is enthralling -- a detailed, well-told exploration of how the mob came to establish a presence in Cuba, and who the primary players were. In the second half, when English tries to weave the revolution into his mob story, the telling becomes convoluted, and the narrative weakens significantly.
Still well worth reading, though, if only for the depth of the research.
Still well worth reading, though, if only for the depth of the research.
dniz23's review against another edition
5.0
If you like mafia movies like I do, then this a great book for you. Having lived in Tampa, I became particularly interested in the history and connection of the Cuban mob and Ybor City.
The internal stories are well told and honest. It really is amazing how much influence the mob had and how much they were able to get away with.
The internal stories are well told and honest. It really is amazing how much influence the mob had and how much they were able to get away with.
nancy5c322's review against another edition
3.0
What an eye opening book for me. It was well written and gave a first hand view of the environment in Cuba. After reading this you understand why the revolution led by Fidel Castro happened. So many well known mafia names are involved in the corruption with the cuban government. You actually feel the anger and contempt the Cuban people must have felt. It explained why my parents were so caught up in what Fidel Castro stated he was fighting for. It made me realize how little I know about Cuba but I plan to continue learning more.
jakewritesbooks's review against another edition
4.0
No doubt about it: T.J. English is one of our great gangster chroniclers.
Here he takes on a crime story with an added degree of difficulty: the mob’s role in Cuba’s casinos just as Fidel Castro was ascending to power, changing the island (and, frankly, American politics) forever.
I know next-to-nothing about the Cuban Revolution so take that for what it’s worth; my competency in fact checking English’s work here is not up to a high standard. Still, I felt like English did a great job giving attention to the two stories and how they eventually converged in a catastrophic way for the mob. He doesn’t take digs at Fidel; he’s honest about what was being fought for and how American foreign policy had exploited Cuba for generations. He also doesn’t glamorize Fidel’s revolution; examining that is for a different writer.
But he does do a fantastic job of bringing 1950s Cuba to life in all its decadent glory and how the major movers of the USA mob saw the island as a cash cow through with they could lauder their ill gotten gains. In particular, he brings to life the powerful but mysterious figure of Meyer Lansky. Despite being a Jew, Lansky’s contributions to the world of the Italian Mafia are immeasurable. He along with other survivors of bootlegger wars across the country set up the organization as a criminal cartel that dominated the US underworld for decades. Meyer was the brains behind everything, yet was such a persistently private person that there aren’t as many good works about him as there are about his contemporaries. This may be the best. English gives us a close, well-researched glimpse at the man, his motives, his maneuvers and everything. He bet it all on Cuba and, in his own words: he crapped out. Watching this play out amidst the backdrop of revolution was wild.
An excellent true crime book that doubles as an examination of a specific period in history. Definitely check it out if you’re curious.
Here he takes on a crime story with an added degree of difficulty: the mob’s role in Cuba’s casinos just as Fidel Castro was ascending to power, changing the island (and, frankly, American politics) forever.
I know next-to-nothing about the Cuban Revolution so take that for what it’s worth; my competency in fact checking English’s work here is not up to a high standard. Still, I felt like English did a great job giving attention to the two stories and how they eventually converged in a catastrophic way for the mob. He doesn’t take digs at Fidel; he’s honest about what was being fought for and how American foreign policy had exploited Cuba for generations. He also doesn’t glamorize Fidel’s revolution; examining that is for a different writer.
But he does do a fantastic job of bringing 1950s Cuba to life in all its decadent glory and how the major movers of the USA mob saw the island as a cash cow through with they could lauder their ill gotten gains. In particular, he brings to life the powerful but mysterious figure of Meyer Lansky. Despite being a Jew, Lansky’s contributions to the world of the Italian Mafia are immeasurable. He along with other survivors of bootlegger wars across the country set up the organization as a criminal cartel that dominated the US underworld for decades. Meyer was the brains behind everything, yet was such a persistently private person that there aren’t as many good works about him as there are about his contemporaries. This may be the best. English gives us a close, well-researched glimpse at the man, his motives, his maneuvers and everything. He bet it all on Cuba and, in his own words: he crapped out. Watching this play out amidst the backdrop of revolution was wild.
An excellent true crime book that doubles as an examination of a specific period in history. Definitely check it out if you’re curious.
ignimbrite's review against another edition
3.0
This book - a (somewhat trashy) history of the American mafia's dealings in Cuba in the 1950's - explores an interesting topic, with some fascinating anecdotes. For someone who knows very little about the history of 20th century Cuba, this book was an entertaining and illuminating description of the effects of American imperialism, a corrupt dictatorship, and "creative" business, and the ways that the culture of corruption and criminality gave Castro's revolutionaries momentum. This is not the most scholarly history book I've ever read, but it was fun.