LA GUERRA DE CUBA

Originally published in 1898, *Cuba in War Time* reflects the conflict on the island in the late 19th century from the American perspective and with a clear propagandistic intent aimed at preparing public opinion for a military intervention that ultimately sparked the war against Spain. It represents one of the most raw and courageous journalistic chronicles of the struggle for Cuban independence against Spanish colonial rule. Richard Harding Davis, acting as a firsthand observer, provides a detailed analysis of the situation on the island, traveling through provinces, military camps, and besieged cities to offer an unfiltered account of the reality of the conflict. The work delves into the devastating consequences of the reconcentration policy imposed by General Valeriano Weyler, documenting the suffering of civilians and the systematic destruction of the agricultural landscape. Through chapters dedicated to the execution of Adolfo Rodríguez or the strategic ineffectiveness of the military trail, Davis combines the denunciation of atrocities with a detailed description of military tactics. The author examines corruption within the Spanish army and the determination of the Cuban insurgents, who, despite a scarcity of resources, maintained a steadfast resistance. The text is complemented by illustrations by Frederic Remington, capturing the atmosphere of tension and misery that prevailed in late-19th-century Cuba. This work constitutes an essential historical document for understanding the geopolitical tensions that preceded the United States’ intervention in the war of 1898. Davis avoids neutrality to highlight human rights violations and the international community’s inaction in the face of a humanitarian tragedy that threatened to turn the island into a wasteland.