Against All Hope

Dictatorships are synonymous with persecution, we are reminded by Vallardesspelling!!/corrected.gs who survived 22 years (1961-1983) of Cuban penal institutions as a political prisoner. Barbarity against prisoners was intensified after the Bay of Pigs invasion, and torture and degradation of inmatesmany of them former Castro supportersare recorded here along with Valladares'ssp?/corrected.gs own ordeals in the Havana Cabana fortress and hishis?/yes.gs forced labor during 10 years in the ill-famed Isla de Pinos, where he met his wifea fellow inmate's daughter. With the help of Amnesty International and Valladares's??/corrected.gs smuggled writings the author's wife eventually secured his release, and the couple now lives in Spain. Although broken in health, his indomitable spirit kept Valladares??/ok.gs alive even in the dread Boniato Prison for hardcore political resisters. International organizations, he alleges, are aware of conditions in Cuba, but are of little assistance. An unobtrusive translation enhances this affecting narrative. Photos not seen by PW. (May 9)