Property of the Revolution
From a Cuban Barrio to a New Hampshire Mill Town—A Memoir
Ana Hebra Flaster
(Author)
21,000+ Reviews
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Description
“Written with the vividness of a poet and the reflexivity of an auto-ethnographer . . . a classic story about displacement, resilience, and triumph, Property of the Revolution offers fresh perspectives and a deeper understanding of the intersectional meanings of home, country, and family.”—Richard Blanco, 2013 Presidential Inaugural Poet, author of The Prince of Los Cocuyos: A Miami Childhood.
In this sweeping, historical, yet intimate memoir, the author details her family’s transformation from pro-Castro revolutionaries in a scrappy Havana barrio to refugees in a New Hampshire mill town—a timeless and timely tale of loss and reinvention.
Ana Hebra Flaster was six years old when her working-class family was kicked out of their Havana barrio for opposing communism. Once devoted revolutionaries themselves but disillusioned by the Castro government’s repressive tactics, they fled to the US. The permanent losses they suffered—of home, country, and loved ones, all within forty-eight hours—haunted her multigenerational family as they reclaimed their lives and freedom in 1967 New Hampshire. There, they fed each other stories of their scrappy barrio—some of which Hebra Flaster has shared on All Things Considered—to resurrect their lost world and fortify themselves for a daunting task: building a new life in a foreign land.
Weaving pivotal events in Cuba–US history with her viejos’—elders’—stories of surviving political upheaval, impossible choices, and “refugeedom,” Property of the Revolution celebrates the indomitable spirit and wisdom of the women warriors who led the family out of Cuba, shaped its rebirth as Cuban Americans, and helped Ana grow up hopeful, future-facing—American. But what happens when deeply buried childhood memories resurface, demanding an adult’s reckoning?
Here’s how the fiercest love, the most stubborn will, and the power of family put nine new Americans back on their feet.
In this sweeping, historical, yet intimate memoir, the author details her family’s transformation from pro-Castro revolutionaries in a scrappy Havana barrio to refugees in a New Hampshire mill town—a timeless and timely tale of loss and reinvention.
Ana Hebra Flaster was six years old when her working-class family was kicked out of their Havana barrio for opposing communism. Once devoted revolutionaries themselves but disillusioned by the Castro government’s repressive tactics, they fled to the US. The permanent losses they suffered—of home, country, and loved ones, all within forty-eight hours—haunted her multigenerational family as they reclaimed their lives and freedom in 1967 New Hampshire. There, they fed each other stories of their scrappy barrio—some of which Hebra Flaster has shared on All Things Considered—to resurrect their lost world and fortify themselves for a daunting task: building a new life in a foreign land.
Weaving pivotal events in Cuba–US history with her viejos’—elders’—stories of surviving political upheaval, impossible choices, and “refugeedom,” Property of the Revolution celebrates the indomitable spirit and wisdom of the women warriors who led the family out of Cuba, shaped its rebirth as Cuban Americans, and helped Ana grow up hopeful, future-facing—American. But what happens when deeply buried childhood memories resurface, demanding an adult’s reckoning?
Here’s how the fiercest love, the most stubborn will, and the power of family put nine new Americans back on their feet.
Product Details
| Publisher | She Writes Press |
| Publish Date | April 22, 2025 |
| Pages | 312 |
| Language | English |
| Type |  Paperback / softback |
| EAN/UPC | 9781647428266 |
| Dimensions | 215.9 X 139.7 X 25.4 mm | 430.9 g |
About the Author
Ana Hebra Flaster has written about Cuba and the Cuban American experience for national print and online media including The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and the Boston Globe. Her commentaries and storytelling have aired on NPR and PBS’s Stories from the Stage. She loves watching birds, walking in the woods, and chatting with just about anyone. After almost forty years in the Boston area, she recently moved back to southern New Hampshire with her husband, Andy, and their Havenese pups, dog, Luna and Beny Moré.
Reviews
“With heart and an acute sense of what it means to be displaced, Property of the Revolution explores the cost of leaving Cuba to come to America. This is a memoir filled with wisdom, history, joy, and the reverberating waves of grief. I wanted to sit with the viejos and all the love and chaos in their multi-generational home and hold on to Abuela and her stories forever.”—Marjan Kamali, author of The Lion Women of Tehran and The Stationery Shop
"Ana Hebra Flaster’s writing moves smoothly between past and present, helping readers see how history shapes personal experiences. The women in her family shine in this story, their strength and wisdom coming through in a way that feels honest and inspiring. She balances the pain of leaving home with the hope of new beginnings, showing the difficulties of starting over while celebrating the traditions that keep a family grounded."—Readers’ Favorite, 5-star review
"Hebra Flaster has produced an exceptional memoir that blends Cuban history with her family’s memories and stories. Beautifully written with warmth, pathos, and humor, she movingly describes her struggles and search for identity yet ensures Property of the Revolution is also a celebration of matriarchal ties, familial bonds, and resilience, qualities that were birthed in the barrios and which became crucial to surviving and, eventually thriving in America."—IndieReader
“. . . Hebra Flaster’s memoir is rich with layers, blending personal anecdotes and political history into a seamless, engrossing narrative. It remains busy and dynamic, brimming with moments that compel the reader forward. From suspenseful accounts of political oppression to heartfelt recollections of her father’s sacrifices, the book pulses with life. . . .”—Literary Titan, 5-star review
"Ana Hebra Flaster builds her story from memories of her family’s journey . . . with the lyricism of rootlessness. An unforgettable book about losses and encounters, by an author in great command of language."—Armando Lucas Correa, author of The German Girl
“Written with the vividness of a poet and the reflexivity of an auto-ethnographer . . . a classic story about displacement, resilience, and triumph, Property of the Revolution offers fresh perspectives and a deeper understanding of the intersectional meanings of home, country, and family.”—Richard Blanco, 2013 Presidential Inaugural Poet, author of The Prince of Los Cocuyos: A Miami Childhood.
"In her beautiful, big-hearted memoir Property of the Revolution, Ana Hebra Flaster intimately explores the psychology of choosing and adapting to exile. Everyone interested in getting past ideology to the inner lives and motivations of refugees should rush to buy this brave book. You won’t want it to end."—Aran Shetterly, author of Morningside: The 1979 Greensboro Massacre and the Struggle for an American City’s Soul
"If you think Cubans in the diaspora have only looked to Miami to find their new homes, this book will take you on a very different Cuban journey: to New Hampshire. . . . A compelling and beautiful memoir, read it to gain a capacious view of what it means to be both Cuban and American and to understand the hurt and hope of those whose ideals of revolution were betrayed."—Ruth Behar, author of Across So Many Seas
“Ana Hebra Flaster’s memoir beautifully represents the journey so many people take when they leave a country they love because there is no other choice. Property of the Revolution: From a Cuban Barrio to a New Hampshire Mill Town reminds us of what immigrants and refugees bring to our country – a commitment to family, a burning desire to contribute to a new community, and a unique cultural identity that makes the U.S. stronger and more vibrant.”—Jeff Thielman, President and CEO, International Institute of New England
"Ana Hebra Flaster’s writing moves smoothly between past and present, helping readers see how history shapes personal experiences. The women in her family shine in this story, their strength and wisdom coming through in a way that feels honest and inspiring. She balances the pain of leaving home with the hope of new beginnings, showing the difficulties of starting over while celebrating the traditions that keep a family grounded."—Readers’ Favorite, 5-star review
"Hebra Flaster has produced an exceptional memoir that blends Cuban history with her family’s memories and stories. Beautifully written with warmth, pathos, and humor, she movingly describes her struggles and search for identity yet ensures Property of the Revolution is also a celebration of matriarchal ties, familial bonds, and resilience, qualities that were birthed in the barrios and which became crucial to surviving and, eventually thriving in America."—IndieReader
“. . . Hebra Flaster’s memoir is rich with layers, blending personal anecdotes and political history into a seamless, engrossing narrative. It remains busy and dynamic, brimming with moments that compel the reader forward. From suspenseful accounts of political oppression to heartfelt recollections of her father’s sacrifices, the book pulses with life. . . .”—Literary Titan, 5-star review
"Ana Hebra Flaster builds her story from memories of her family’s journey . . . with the lyricism of rootlessness. An unforgettable book about losses and encounters, by an author in great command of language."—Armando Lucas Correa, author of The German Girl
“Written with the vividness of a poet and the reflexivity of an auto-ethnographer . . . a classic story about displacement, resilience, and triumph, Property of the Revolution offers fresh perspectives and a deeper understanding of the intersectional meanings of home, country, and family.”—Richard Blanco, 2013 Presidential Inaugural Poet, author of The Prince of Los Cocuyos: A Miami Childhood.
"In her beautiful, big-hearted memoir Property of the Revolution, Ana Hebra Flaster intimately explores the psychology of choosing and adapting to exile. Everyone interested in getting past ideology to the inner lives and motivations of refugees should rush to buy this brave book. You won’t want it to end."—Aran Shetterly, author of Morningside: The 1979 Greensboro Massacre and the Struggle for an American City’s Soul
"If you think Cubans in the diaspora have only looked to Miami to find their new homes, this book will take you on a very different Cuban journey: to New Hampshire. . . . A compelling and beautiful memoir, read it to gain a capacious view of what it means to be both Cuban and American and to understand the hurt and hope of those whose ideals of revolution were betrayed."—Ruth Behar, author of Across So Many Seas
“Ana Hebra Flaster’s memoir beautifully represents the journey so many people take when they leave a country they love because there is no other choice. Property of the Revolution: From a Cuban Barrio to a New Hampshire Mill Town reminds us of what immigrants and refugees bring to our country – a commitment to family, a burning desire to contribute to a new community, and a unique cultural identity that makes the U.S. stronger and more vibrant.”—Jeff Thielman, President and CEO, International Institute of New England
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