About the Author

Heather Murray was born in Nova Scotia, Canada, but grew up in the United States, where she attended Harvard University. She has spent most of her adult life in Switzerland, lecturing at the universities of Bern and Zurich, training English teachers and doing research in applied linguistics. An avid traveler, Murray sometimes hikes or cycles long distances within the countries she visits. She first traveled to Cuba as part of her work, but has returned several times since to explore the country and meet its people.

Reviews

Other travelogues about Cuba offer different approaches; but what makes this one so engaging is the fact that it was produced over a number of years and several journeys to the country, not just one or two, and so holds the ability to contrast past and present worlds as well as capture and comment on the future of Cuba's people. The book features an online photo album of images from those worlds. D. Donovan, Midwest Book Review Her accounts of her two later trips to the Cuban countryside to visit Julian's family and small towns and cities remote from Havana eloquently describe life seldom seen by outside visitors. Her descriptions of both the land and the people are vivid. Her accounts are personal and often touching. .... By the end, you feel as if you too know the individual Cubans she has come to know. ... You are with her "among friends.". M.J. Santo Pietro, Ph.D.I was charmed by author Heather Murray's story... Descriptions effortlessly capture the magic of special moments but Murray doesn't shy away from presenting both sides of her explorations of Cuba - the side you could easily fall in love with and the side that keeps you wary. Observations are light-hearted and, though they often point out poignant truths, they avoid the pitfalls of the overly sentimental traveller's account. Anita Nasr This is a very good book. The writing is almost flawless .... a wonderful, warm-hearted view of a much neglected and sometimes maligned nation - its countryside, its architecture, its institutions - but mostly its people. It is very clear the author has an ongoing love affair with Cuba and after reading her book I understand why and would love to go visit myself. Alara /Goodreads review Fantastic travel writing about a complex country! Amazon review