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Habana Nostra: A Novel by Pavel Giroud
Filmmaker Pavel Giroud's debut novel, "Habana Nostra," explores the Cuban mafia and the visit of Lucky Luciano, using historical research to create a fictional narrative.
Spanish
Spain
Latin AmericaHistoryFilmCubaNovelMafia
FbiCiaEditorial PlanetaEditorial Traveler
Pavel GiroudLucky LucianoMeyer LanskyHarry WallaceFidel Castro
- How much information did Giroud have to leave out of the novel?
- Giroud had to leave out a considerable amount of information, applying the filmmaking principle of eliminating anything unnecessary, regardless of how much effort it took to obtain.
- What does the publication of "Habana Nostra" signify for Pavel Giroud?
- For Pavel Giroud, the publication of "Habana Nostra" concludes a personal goal rather than marking the start of a writing career. He is primarily a filmmaker who wrote a novel, and he's uncertain if this will lead to more writing.
- How does "Habana Nostra" differ from other books about the Cuban mafia?
- Unlike other books on the Cuban mafia, "Habana Nostra" emphasizes a character-driven narrative, focusing on the transformations of its characters and questioning their capacity for power. It also challenges existing historical accounts and explores previously neglected figures.
- How does the research for "Habana Nostra" compare to that for "El Caso Padilla?"
- Giroud's research for "Habana Nostra" was more extensive than for "El Caso Padilla", spanning over 15 years and encompassing various sources including FBI and CIA documents. However, it's not a historical text but rather a fictional narrative using history as its base.
- What does the novel suggest about current Cuba and its relationship with the United States?
- Giroud believes his novel reveals the historical flow between Cuba and the United States, which was severed after Castro's rise to power. He suggests Cuba was once a Western nation and is now more Caribbean in a negative sense; a return to that previous relationship might not be unnatural.