Author recounts Bacardi’s 150-year history in Cuba

January 27th, 2013
'Bacardi and the Long Fight for Cuba' presentation at Gables Museum

Yolanda Woodbridge and Carol Brock. Photo by Betty Alvarez

'Bacardi and the Long Fight for Cuba' presentation at Gables Museum

Maujke Ver Bodengreven, Pat Craw, Jeannett Slesnick and Sydney Anderson. Photo by Betty Alvarez

'Bacardi and the Long Fight for Cuba' presentation at Gables Museum

Maujke Ver Bodengreven, Jose Rodriguez, Tere Valdes and former Mayor Don Slesnick. Photo by Betty Alvarez

'Bacardi and the Long Fight for Cuba' presentation at Gables Museum

Marlin Ebbert, former Mayor George Corrigan, Gay Bondurant and Ruth Jacobs. Photo by Betty Alvarez

'Bacardi and the Long Fight for Cuba' presentation at Gables Museum

Maritza and Bob Jacobson. Photo by Betty Alvarez

'Bacardi and the Long Fight for Cuba' presentation at Gables Museum

Margarita Paz and Carmen Sola-Llorch. Photo by Betty Alvarez

'Bacardi and the Long Fight for Cuba' presentation at Gables Museum

Margaret Seropian, Robert Rosser, Pat Crew and Syndey Anderson. Photo by Betty Alvarez

'Bacardi and the Long Fight for Cuba' presentation at Gables Museum

Ken Lehman, author Tom Gjetlen and Lucy Lehman. Photo by Betty Alvarez

'Bacardi and the Long Fight for Cuba' presentation at Gables Museum

Joe Cumming, Roy Gonas and Richard Stuart. Photo by Betty Alvarez

'Bacardi and the Long Fight for Cuba' presentation at Gables Museum

Jeannett Slesnick, Ed Joyce, president of Northern Trust (event sponsor) and George Cureta. Photo by Betty Alvarez

'Bacardi and the Long Fight for Cuba' presentation at Gables Museum

Former Mayor George Corrigan and Arne Themmen. Photo by Betty Alvarez

'Bacardi and the Long Fight for Cuba' presentation at Gables Museum

Eric Speyer and Tammi Jamison. Photo by Betty Alvarez

'Bacardi and the Long Fight for Cuba' presentation at Gables Museum

Danielle Strickman and Marilyn Udell. Photo by Betty Alvarez

'Bacardi and the Long Fight for Cuba' presentation at Gables Museum

Museum Director Chris Rupp and Jo Anne Baxter. Photo by Betty Alvarez

'Bacardi and the Long Fight for Cuba' presentation at Gables Museum

Tom Gjetlen speaks to a packed community room at the Gables Museum. Photo by Jeannett Slesnick

'Bacardi and the Long Fight for Cuba' presentation at Gables Museum

Author Tom Gjetlen discusses his book. Photo by Jeannett Slesnick

'Bacardi and the Long Fight for Cuba' presentation at Gables Museum

Tom Gjetlen's book was released in August 2009. Photo by Jeannett Slesnick

'Bacardi and the Long Fight for Cuba' presentation at Gables Museum

Author / historian Arva Moore Parks addresses the audience. Photo by Jeannett Slesnick

'Bacardi and the Long Fight for Cuba' presentation at Gables Museum

Museum community room was packed for Tom Gjetlen's presentation. Photo by Jeannett Slesnick.

'Bacardi and the Long Fight for Cuba' presentation at Gables Museum

A reception preceded the presentation. Photo by Jeannett Slesnick

Yolanda Woodbridge and Carol Brock. Photo by Betty AlvarezMaujke Ver Bodengreven, Pat Craw, Jeannett Slesnick and Sydney Anderson. Photo by Betty AlvarezMaujke Ver Bodengreven, Jose Rodriguez, Tere Valdes and former Mayor Don Slesnick. Photo by Betty AlvarezMarlin Ebbert, former Mayor George Corrigan, Gay Bondurant and Ruth Jacobs. Photo by Betty AlvarezMaritza and Bob Jacobson. Photo by Betty AlvarezMargarita Paz and Carmen Sola-Llorch. Photo by Betty AlvarezMargaret Seropian, Robert Rosser, Pat Crew and Syndey Anderson. Photo by Betty AlvarezKen Lehman, author Tom Gjetlen and Lucy Lehman. Photo by Betty AlvarezJoe Cumming, Roy Gonas and Richard Stuart. Photo by Betty AlvarezJeannett Slesnick, Ed Joyce, president of Northern Trust (event sponsor) and George Cureta. Photo by Betty AlvarezFormer Mayor George Corrigan and Arne Themmen. Photo by Betty AlvarezEric Speyer and Tammi Jamison. Photo by Betty AlvarezDanielle Strickman and Marilyn Udell. Photo by Betty AlvarezMuseum Director Chris Rupp and Jo Anne Baxter. Photo by Betty AlvarezTom Gjetlen speaks to a packed community room at the Gables Museum. Photo by Jeannett SlesnickAuthor Tom Gjetlen discusses his book. Photo by Jeannett SlesnickTom Gjetlen's book was released in August 2009. Photo by Jeannett SlesnickAuthor / historian Arva Moore Parks addresses the audience. Photo by Jeannett SlesnickMuseum community room was packed for Tom Gjetlen's presentation. Photo by Jeannett Slesnick.A reception preceded the presentation. Photo by Jeannett Slesnick

A packed crowd in the Coral Gables Museum’s community room heard NPR correspondent and author Tom Gjetlen discuss his book Bacardi and the Long Fight for Cuba on Thursday evening, Jan. 24.

The presentation, sponsored by Northern Trust, was held in conjunction with the exhibit “Building Bacardi: Architecture, Art and Identity,” which follows the stages of the company’s development and is on view through Feb. 17.

Gjelten’s widely hailed book, released in August 2009, fuses the story of the Bacardi family and their famous rum business with Cuba’s tumultuous experience over the last 150 years to produce a deeply entertaining historical narrative.

The company Facundo Bacardi launched in Cuba in 1862 brought worldwide fame to the island, and in the decades that followed his Bacardi descendants participated in every aspect of Cuban life.

With his intimate account of their struggles and adventures across five generations, Gjelten’s book brings to life the larger story of Cuba’s fight for freedom, its tortured relationship with America, the rise of Fidel Castro, and the violent division of the Cuban nation.