There is a Cuban thinker from the mid19th century who spoke out against armed struggle against Spain at the beginning of the War of Independence. And he claims it's a mistake. He advocated that there be an agreement with Spain that would give Cuba the rights that Cuba needs so that it can function better. At the time it was the richest area in Spain. He said he would prefer if we spoke Spanish and not English. He knew how dangerous independence could be. It was heavily criticized. Thirty years later he saw what would happen to Cuba.
Independence was thwarted by US military intervention in 1898. The war against Spain was at a dead end. Cuba couldn't win. But Spain was defeated. And then comes the American military intervention. In this context, I locate the first part of this book between 1909 and 1910.
What happens in Cuba after these American interventions?
They lead to great frustration in the country's national feeling. But at the same time it entails major investments in the country's infrastructure and modernization. If they want neocolonialism, they need things that work. So they build buildings, roads and the Malecon in Havana. Cars are coming and the city is modernizing.
And in the second part of the book you delve into the Obama years…
In fact, in my previous work “Transparência do Tempo” the story ends in October 2014. And there is a small epilogue in which the character Mario Conde wakes up in the morning on December 17, 2014 with the feeling that being there is something that is about to happen becomes. And so the story ends.