The name of the legendary Cuban leader Fidel Castro is known all over the world. The story of a brave rebel who became a partisan commander, and then the leader of revolutionary Cuba, boldly challenging the political and military power of the United States, the experience of building a new life on Freedom Island has been of great interest in many countries for several decades. In his book, international journalist M.A. Makarychev tried to investigate the phenomenon of this outstanding personality and find answers to the questions: how did Fidel and a handful of associates manage to make a revolution? What helped him stay in power for almost half a century, despite crises, conspiracies and a constant threat to life? What will Cuba be like in the 21st century?