The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba
by Chanel Cleeton
“Grace Harrington is my new favourite heroine. I was absolutely fascinated by the world of stunt girl reporters and newspaper wars that she throws herself into, just as I was equal parts enthralled and heartbroken by the story of Evangelina Cisneros, the most beautiful – and courageous – girl in Cuba. And how wonderful to meet another member of the Perez family – the plucky Marina, whose story intertwines with the other women’s. Nobody writes about Cuban women – their lives, their loves and their bravery – like Chanel Cleeton does. A truly beautiful book.”
—Natasha Lester, New York Times bestselling author of The Paris Secret
“Chanel Cleeton uncovers a fascinating bit of little-known history about the Spanish-American War and delivers the real-life story of Evangelina Cisneros in glorious, page-turning detail. The events of her life stoked the circulation wars between Pulitzer and Hearst and highlighted the power of the press. Filled with rich historical facts and strong-minded female characters, you’ll want to keep Google open to learn even more about Cuba’s struggle for independence. The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba is Cleeton’s best book yet!”
—Renee Rosen, National bestselling author Park Avenue Summer
“Remember the Maine!”
At the end of the nineteenth century, three revolutionary women fight for freedom in New York Times bestselling author Chanel Cleeton’s captivating new novel inspired by real-life events and the true story of a legendary Cuban woman–Evangelina Cisneros–who changed the course of history.
A feud rages in Gilded Age New York City between newspaper tycoons William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer. When Grace Harrington lands a job at Hearst’s newspaper in 1896, she’s caught in a cutthroat world where one scoop can make or break your career, but it’s a story emerging from Cuba that changes her life.
Unjustly imprisoned in a notorious Havana women’s jail, eighteen-year-old Evangelina Cisneros dreams of a Cuba free from Spanish oppression. When Hearst learns of her plight and splashes her image on the front page of his paper, proclaiming her, “The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba,” she becomes a rallying cry for American intervention in the battle for Cuban independence.
With the help of Marina Perez, a courier secretly working for the Cuban revolutionaries in Havana, Grace and Hearst’s staff attempt to free Evangelina. But when Cuban civilians are forced into reconcentration camps and the explosion of the USS Maine propels the United States and Spain toward war, the three women must risk everything in their fight for freedom.
Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the opportunity to read this compelling historical fiction.
THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GIRL IN CUBA by Chanel Cleeton
Excerpt
“I’m here for a job if you have one. As a reporter. I’ve spent the last few years writing for smaller papers, getting experience where I could.” I gesture to the leather folio in my lap. “I’ve brought samples of my work if you’d like to look at them. They’re not necessarily the kinds of stories I want to cover, but they’re a start.”
“Why do you wish to work here, Miss Harrington?” Pulitzer asks, making no move to take the folio from me.
“Because of the stories you cover, the impact you have. The World has one of the largest circulations in the world.”
Indeed, Mr. Pulitzer has just slashed the World’s price to one cent, saying he prefers power to profits, circulation the measure by which success is currently judged.
“You have the opportunity to reach readers, to bring about change, to help people who desperately need assistance,” I add. “I’ve admired the work you’ve done for years. You’ve long set the tone the rest of the New York newspaper industry follows. You’ve filled a gap in the news, given a voice to people who wouldn’t have otherwise had one. I’ve read the articles you wrote when you were a reporter yourself in St. Louis, and I admire the manner in which you address society’s ills. You’ve revolutionized the newspaper. I want to be part of that.”
“That’s all fine and good, but why should I hire you? What would you bring to the World that someone else wouldn’t?”
“My gender, for one. A woman knows what it’s like to be pushed to society’s margins. There are some who might argue that a woman cannot do this job as effectively as a man. They would be wrong. Nellie Bly has proven that. You did, too, when you hired her.”
“And what do you know of Nellie Bly?”
“You gave her a chance when others wouldn’t.”
“Cockerill gave her a chance,” he replies, referring to his editor.
“With all due respect, Mr. Pulitzer, we both know this is your paper. You saw something in Nellie Bly. And now she’s gone, and you need another reporter who can take on the kinds of stories she did and can go places your male journalists can’t. What she accomplished at the Women’s Lunatic Asylum”—the words “lunatic asylum” fall distastefully from my mouth—“on Blackwell’s Island, going undercover like that, was nothing short of extraordinary. Those women’s lives have been changed because of Miss Bly’s courage and her daring. Those placards out there, the philosophy with which you run your newsroom—I promise to uphold it every single day I work for you.”
Pulitzer leans back in his chair. “You’re plucky like Bly, I’ll give you that.”
“I am.”
JENA’S REVIEW
The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba by Chanel Cleeton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
“The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba” by Chanel Cleeton showcases why I enjoy historical fiction. This book highlights a part of history that I had not read much about and presents the story through the lenses of three women. Author Cleeton brings history to life, in all its glory and agony.
“Remember the Maine!”
That phrase most likely sums up all most of us remember about the Cuban War of Independence, more familiar to Americans as the Spanish-American War. Crying “Vivre Cuba Libra!” farmers became soldiers against a powerful military. In the last years of the 1800’s, many in America began to rally to the Cuban’s cause and the horrific living conditions going on in Cuba.
Author Cleeton uses three women to tell the story of this war. Grace is a new reporter at William Randolph Hearst’s New York Journal. As Grace learns the journalistic ropes, she is given the opportunity to write about the War. In Cuba, Evangelina is arrested and thrown into a horrible women’s prison in Havana. Also in Cuba, Marina says goodbye to her revolutionary husband and vows to protect her daughter and continue the fight against Spain.
Evangelina Cisternos was a real woman and her daring actions propelled her to world fame and increased support for Cuba. Over 400 hundred articles about her appeared in William Hearst’s paper and she was touted as the “most beautiful girl in Cuba.” (She was a young woman at the time and she disliked being called a “girl.”)
Through the stories of these three women, Author Cleeton examines the war, when is war necessary, and should the press report on the war or take active means to support it? The stories of the two Cuban women highlight their dilemmas, too- how can the wealthy support the war, and how can women be involved?
Written in a slow and clear style, “The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba” will teach you, entertain you and finally, inspire you. Cuba gained formal independence in 1902.
*This review will be featured on my blog on or about May 4,
2021 https://www.jenabooks.com/category/pr…
Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for an advance digital review copy. This is my honest review.
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About the Author
Originally from Florida, Chanel Cleeton grew up on stories of her family’s exodus from Cuba following the events of the Cuban Revolution. Her passion for politics and history continued during her years spent studying in England, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Richmond, The American International University in London, and a master’s degree in Global Politics from the London School of Economics and Political Science. Chanel also received her Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law.
About the Author
