Papa and Fidel

Papa Hemingway and Fidel Castro met once at a Cuban fishing tournament, but in Alexander's wonderful adventure they develop a warm and plausible friendship. Worried that old age has robbed him of both his physical and mental powers, Papa embarks on a dangerous trek to find the leader of Cuba's revolutionary movement. Upon meeting him, however, Papa doesn't spare the ``kid'' his skepticism. But Castro is impressed with the great writer, and even re-reads For Whom the Bell Tolls to pick up military pointers before an assault. After the revolution, however, Castro is beseiged by the duties of government and the attacks of U.S.-backed subversives, and his friendship with Papa changes. The relationship isn't a secret to Castro's enemies, who train their sights on Papa in an ending that carries an awful ring of reality. But politics is strictly a backdrop in this fast-paced, fascinating story of men under pressure by the author of Time After Time. As Papa might have said, it's a damn good book. (Apr.)