An intimate, revisionist portrait of the early years of Fidel Castro, showing how an unlikely young Cuban led his country in revolution and transfixed the world. This book will change how you think about Fidel Castro. Until now, biographers have treated Castro’s life like prosecutors, scouring his past for evidence to convict a person they don’t like or don’t understand. Young Castro challenges readers to put aside the caricature of a bearded, cigar-munching, anti-American hot head to discover how Castro became the dictator who acted as a thorn in the side of US presidents for nearly half a century. A gripping and edifying narrative... Hansen brings imposing research and notable erudition to this account of Fidel Castro's early life. - Booklist An important, thoroughly researched and documented recent work on Cuban history that belongs in all libraries - Library Journal.