The Tragedy of
Fidel Castro
by Joao Cerqueira
A war between Fidel Castro and JFK is about to start.
Jesus returns to Earth and teams up with Fátima, who is convinced she can
create a miracle to avoid the conflict.
Castro makes a pact with the Devil.
A Featured Interview
Why write a novel about Fidel Castro?
I have a special interest in this complex historical figure.
He led a revolution, defied America for decades and
almost started a nuclear war. The Berlin Wall has fallen,
the Soviet Union no longer exists and China has become
capitalist – but nothing seems to overturn Castro. The
CIA tried to poison him, to shoot him, hired the Mafia to
kill him and nothing works. He is old and sick, he can’t
do seven-hour speeches anymore, but he is still El
Comandante – he is still in charge. So, I have been to
Cuba three times and I spoke with a lot of people. The
scene in the book featuring demonstrations against the
regime and throwing stones was told to me by Havana
citizens who were there. They also told me the story
of the execution of one of the nation’s heroes, General
Arnaldo Ochoa (he is the inspiration for the character
Camilo Ochoa, who owes his first name to Camilo
Cienfuegos). In a way, the idea for writing a novel about
El Comandante began at this point. Besides, how many
novels are there about Fidel Castro?
What were the reasons for how you represented
God, Christ, and Fátima?
As most Portuguese, I had a traditional Catholic
education. I was christened, I went to catechism classes,
I was confirmed and I went to mass (was obliged to go)
until the age of fourteen. So, from a young age religion
has played an important role in my cultural development.
At the same time, I have always been intrigued by the
story of the Miracle of Fatima: the Virgin Mother and
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the angels descend from the heavens and reveal three
secrets to three shepherd children – the description of
hell, the end of communism and a third secret, which for
a long time was believed to be the end of the world. In
addition the Holy Virgin warned them that the sun would
move on the 13th of October, 1917 and thousands of
people traveled to Fátima and swore that they really did
see it move. Could there be anything more extraordinary
than this? And, to make the case all the more interesting,
during the 80s theories and books appeared claiming
that there had been an extraterrestrial intervention in
Fátima. The Virgin Mary and the angels were beings from
another planet. My imagination had all it needed to create
a story featuring these characters. Then, as there was a
prediction about the end of communism, the connection
between the sun miracle and Fidel Castro became – in
terms of literature – credible.
João Cerqueira has PhD in the History of Art
João Cerqueirahas aa PhD in History of Art from the
from the University of He had four year research
University of Oporto. Oporto. He had a four-year
research sponsorship grant awarded Portuguese
sponsorship grant awarded by the by the Portuguese Science and Technology Foundation (FCT),
Science and Technology Foundation (FCT),
within the field
within the field of the history of art. Hecovered the
of history of art. He covered
the Porto 2001 European Capital of Culture for
Porto 2001 European Capital of Culture for Arte
Arte Ibérica magazine. He is the author of seven
Ibérica magazine. He is the author of seven
books.
books.
joaocerqueira.com