Little Cuba Libre [1918 First Edition] [Cuban Revolution & Spanish-American War Fiction] [Pictorial Cloth]

A scarce and evocative juvenile novel set against the backdrop of the Cuban struggle for independence from Spain. Through the eyes of a young girl, Duggan weaves a narrative of patriotism and revolt, capturing the pro-Cuban sentiment prevalent in America following the Spanish-American War. KEY FEATURES +++ Visuals: Illustrated with four striking monochromatic black-and-white plates by Nana French Bickford, capturing the drama of the island's landscape and conflict. +++ Binding: Publisher's original tan cloth with a bold pictorial design of a tropical scene stamped in blue and green. +++ Content: Centers on the character of Amada and her role in the secret revolutionary activities against Spanish rule; a unique look at 'girlhood' in a combat zone. +++ Rarity: Scarce in the 1918 first printing; often missing from institutional specialized collections of Caribbean-interest juvenile literature. +++ Provenance: Includes a contemporary gift inscription on the front free endpaper. +++ Specs: [7.5] inches tall / 282 pages. CONDITION Very Good -- Bindings are tight and square. The pictorial cloth is remarkably clean for tan fabric, with the blue and green stamping remaining sharp. Text block is clean with light even toning. Moderate shelf handling wear to the spine ends. A very well-preserved copy of a fragile wartime-era production. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE -- Janie Prichard Duggan was an American author who specialized in mission-based and historical stories of the Caribbean and Mexico. 'Little Cuba Libre' was published as part of a wave of American literature that romanticized the Cuban 'Mambises' (revolutionaries) and sought to explain the complex geopolitics of the Caribbean to a younger American audience. The illustrations by Nana French Bickford provide a window into the American visual perception of Cuba during the early 20th centurybalancing the 'tropical idyll' with the harsh reality of the revolt. For the collector of Cuban history or juvenile fiction, this volume is an uncommon artifact of the era when 'Cuba Libre' was a rallying cry across the United States. SUBJECTS: Cuba History, Spanish-American War, Cuban Revolution, Female Protagonists, Latin American Fiction, Children's Literature, 1910s Americana, Historical Fiction, First Edition, Juvenile Literature, Caribbean Interest. BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCE Noted in 'The Cumulative Book Index' (1918). …