Anderson's biography

[Jaded Revolutionary]

Okay, I'm finally reading Anderson's Che biography.. I'm nearly halfway through it, but I have some critisisms with it..

As much as I like the fact that Anderson is being honest about Che, and trying to be objective, did anyone feel he was at times TOO objective? Like, much of the first half of the book Anderson recounts all his sexual affairs. I don't exactly see how this was necessary. Anderson also seems to show him as not being political or concerned about other people at all. This isn't a direct quote but it's something along these lines "He was asked to join the Cuban Revolution so he thought, why not" This seems to make out that Che joined Fidel's plan for revolution just for something to do. In The Motorcycle Diaries, Che writes about how shocked he is about the injustices in Latin America and how poverty, hunger and greed is ruining the lives of the working class. Anderson doesn't touch on any of this at all. In fact, sometimes I think that Anderson doesn't support Che at all.

I'm happy to read the real Che, and no I didn't have Che up on a pedestal (well, i did but that's not the point) and think that this book has dashed it, but is this really the true Che? Has he really captured the essence of who Che was?

You guys will probably know more than me.

I'm not sure if this belongs in the book section. If so, could a mod please move it for me? Thanks.

[Amusing Scrotum]

I've just finished reading "Companero", which is a really good biography of Che. Like Andersons biography, Companero, shows that while Che was concerned with poverty, injustice etc. in his youth, he had no particular political opinions. He was indifferent to Peron in Argentina etc. In Companero, the author uses sources to show this, people who knew Che and Che's early writings, show a certain indifference to politics.
Whether one can be "too objective" in an autobiography, is a daft question. Do you want to know about the man you admire, sexual exploits and all, or do you want to just hear what you want to here. My feeling is that, the more faults you find with Che, the more appealing he becomes. He was an ordinary man, who did daft things, but, also tried his hardest to be perfect.

[fernando]

Who is the writer of "The Real Che"?

[Socialsmo o Muerte]

The Anderson book is a book on Che's life, not his political life only. So that's why he mentions Che's sexual exploits as a youngster. I don't think this does anything bad to Che in terms of the picture painted of him in the book though. He's young, he has sex and stuff, so what? Likesomeone else said, he was just an ordinary man going through life. I suppose the one negative thing you can take is that he was seemingly using women, but you must remember the context. 1950's Latin America: machoism at it's height.

As for Anderson saying Che hjoined the struggle for something to do, I read the book a while ago and seem to remember him epnhasising the hatred Che felt towards the injustices. But he was by no means a revolutionary from that moment on. When Fidel asked him to join the war, Che was going through a discovery time in his life. Experimenting with the revolution. Fidel's offer was another chance to learn, so he took it. Of course, we know from then on he became the personification of Revolution.

[Amusing Scrotum]

The Anderson book is a book on Che's life, not his political life only. So that's why he mentions Che's sexual exploits as a youngster. I don't think this does anything bad to Che in terms of the picture painted of him in the book though. He's young, he has sex and stuff, so what?

Exactly, if Anderson failed to point this out, he would be failing in his duty as a biographer, to paint a clear and accurate picture of Guervara. The question you have to ask yourself as a reader is, do you want honesty or fantasy? Do you want to know what Che was really like, or do you only wish to know, what you want to know?

Reading inaccurate material, only leads to half formed beliefs.

[bed_of_nails]

I hated the first half of that book for exactly that reason. I dont care who Che had sex with and where, I am reading this to read about his revolutionary involvement :lol:

[Socialsmo o Muerte]

Well it's an autobiography mate. You were reading the wrong book.

[fernando]

its a biography..Che didnt write that book ;)

[Socialsmo o Muerte]

You know what I meant! lol

[adreamofequality]

what is a good book about che that dealt mostly with his politcal and revolutionary views?

[adreamofequality]

what is a good book about che that dealt mostly with his politcal and revolutionary views, and also about his life after the cuban revolution?

[Socialsmo o Muerte]

You're better off reading Che's writings.

[TupacAndChe4Eva]

Originally posted by Socialsmo o [email protected] 27 2005, 12:04 AM
You're better off reading Che's writings.
Agreed.

However, I can't find any links, etc. to the Cuban Revolutiuonary War diaries.

Anyone got a link?

[Socialsmo o Muerte]

Buy the books.

[TupacAndChe4Eva]

Originally posted by Socialsmo o [email protected] 28 2005, 11:33 PM
Buy the books.
I have them all, except for any diaries relating to the Cuban Revolution.

[fernando]

Originally posted by Socialsmo o [email protected] 27 2005, 12:04 AM
You're better off reading Che's writings.
perhaps...but even his Bolivian Diary was filled with simply his interpretations of the things that happened, which were not always right.

His own words do not give you an objective biography about this figure.