This collection presents for the first time in the United States the ideas of Fidel Castro in the words he uses to address the Cuban people.

No revolution in history has depended on radio and television to explain its action and program to the extent that the Cuban Revolution has. This is not simply the result of Fidel's personal affinity for speech-making instead of lengthy written treatises. But, rather, was made absolutely necessary by the fact that so much happened so fast in the Cuban Revolution that the most ef- fective and speedy means of communications and education (i.e., speeches) had to be utilized by Fidel. The actual period of insurrection was so brief that there was little time for ideological education of the Cuban people during the process of armed struggle; thus, most of this education had to take place after the seizure of power in January, 1959. Fighting in the Sierra Maestra and in the cities lasted for only two years, concluding on the night of December 31, 1958, when Batista fled Havana. Furthermore, few revolutions have moved with such lightning speed from anti-communist, nationalist struggle to militant communist internationalism, actively promoting armed revolution in Latin America and the rest of the world.