''Cuba Libre'' is a 1998 historical novel written by Elmore Leonard. The story takes place in 1898, immediately before the outbreak of the

Spanish–American War , partof = the Philippine Revolution, the decolonization of the Americas, and the Cuban War of Independence , image = Collage infobox for Spanish-American War.jpg , image_size = 300px , caption = (cloc ...

.Ripping good reading set in stormy Cuba; Elmore Leonard spins a smooth yarn: Mandel, Charles. Edmonton Journal dmonton, Alta15 Mar 1998.

Plot summary

Ben Tyler, a cowboy and sometime bank robber, is released from prison and is recruited by his old boss to ship a string of

horse The horse (''Equus ferus caballus'') is a domesticated, one-toed, hoofed mammal. It belongs to the taxonomic family Equidae and is one of two extant subspecies of ''Equus ferus''. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million yea ...

s to a rich American sugar baron in

Cuba Cuba ( , ), officially the Republic of Cuba ( es, República de Cuba, links=no ), is an island country comprising the island of Cuba, as well as Isla de la Juventud and several minor archipelagos. Cuba is located where the northern Caribbea ...

. Their ship arrives in

Havana Havana (; Spanish: ''La Habana'' ) is the capital and largest city of Cuba. The heart of the La Habana Province, Havana is the country's main port and commercial center.

harbor shortly after the explosive destruction of the warship ''

USS Maine Four ships of the United States Navy have borne the name USS ''Maine'', named for the 23rd state: * , was a battleship whose 1898 sinking precipitated the Spanish–American War. * , launched in 1901, was the lead ship of her class of battleships ...

'', amid rumors that war between

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...

and the

United States of America The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territo ...

is imminent.

References

1998 American novels Novels by Elmore Leonard Historical novels Novels set in Cuba Fiction set in 1898 Spanish–American War fiction Novels set in the 1890s Novels about rebels Books with cover art by Chip Kidd {{1990s-hist-novel-stub