On 9 October 1967, Ernesto Che Guevara, Marxist guerrilla leader and hero of the Cuban Revolution, was captured and executed by Bolivian forces. When the Guevara family learned from the front pages that Che was dead, they decided to say nothing. Fifty years on, his younger brother, Juan Martin, breaks the silence to narrate his intimate memories and share with us his views of the character behind one of history's most iconic figures.

Juan Martin brings Che back to life, as a caring and protective older brother. Alongside the many practical jokes and escapades they undertook together, Juan Martin also relates the two extraordinary months he spent with the Comandante in 1959, in Havana, at the epicentre of the Cuban Revolution. He remembers Che as an idealist and adventurer and also as a committed intellectual. And he tells us of their parents - eccentric, cultivated, bohemian - and of their brothers and sisters, all of whom played a part in his political awakening.

This unique autobiographical account sheds new light on a figure who continues to be revered as a symbol of revolutionary action and who remains a source of inspiration for many who believe that the struggle for a better world is not in vain.

About the Author

Juan Martin Guevara lives in Buenos Aires. He spent more than 8 years behind bars under the military junta for his political activities and connection with Che. He went on to found 'Por las huellas del Che', an association dedicated to the legacy of his older brother.

Armelle Vincent is a French journalist based in Los Angeles. She came into contact with Juan Martin, who was at the time the biggest importer of Cuban cigars into Argentina, while writing an article for a French magazine, L'Amateur de Cigare.

Reviews
"The life of Che is an inspiration to all human beings who cherish freedom. We will always honour his memory." Nelson Mandela

"You know how much I admire Che Guevara. In fact, I believe that the man was not only an intellectual but also the most complete human being of our age: as a fighter and as a man, as a theoretician who was able to further the cause of revolution by drawing his theories from his personal experience in battle."
Jean-Paul Sartre

"The discussions that count are those that continue, albeit silently, in thought. In my mind, the discussion with Che has continued for all these years, and the more time passed, the more he has been right. Even today, dying while putting in motion a never ending struggle, he continues, always, to be right"
Italo Calvino

"The powerful of the earth should take heed: deep inside that T-shirt where we have tried to trap him, the eyes of Che Guevara are still burning with impatience."
Ariel Dorfman

"Juan Martin, who at 72 continues to share his brother's youthful ideals, wants him to be remembered as a human being, not as a myth. His book is a powerful and affectionate testimony to the life behind the legend."
Foreword Reviews

"This book is a surprisingly valuable addition to a somewhat variable literature on Che Guevara."
E-International Relations

"A memoir by Che Guevara's brother provides acute insight into the revolutionary icon... an insightful and valuable book."
Morning Star

"If you want to delve deeper into how Che the man became Che the icon, and the intimacy of his influence over the boy who knew him as a blood brother rather than a comrade, add this [to your] collection."
The Observer

"Anyone interested in Che Guevara, the Argentinian socialist and hero of the Cuban revolution, is spoilt for choice when looking for books about his life and exploits. But a new book, Che, My Brother, written by his sibling in the run-up to the fiftieth anniversary of Che's death, is a welcome addition.
Socialist Party

"Page-turner"
The New Yorker





Book Information
ISBN 9781509517756
Author Juan Martin Guevara
Format Hardback
Page Count 240
Imprint Polity Press
Publisher John Wiley and Sons Ltd
Weight(grams) 408g
Dimensions(mm) 198mm * 137mm * 31mm