''Powerful and poetic ... For anyone interested in the myth of Che Guevara ... this book is essential reading'' Colm Tóibín, Observer

''We were an army of shadows, of ghosts, walking as if to the beat of some dark psychic mechanism...''

The Cuban Revolution changed the course of the twentieth century. Following years of brutal tyranny and poverty, a band of idealistic young people fought against immense odds to overthrow a dictator and emerged victorious. This is the story of how they did it. Che Guevara's classic eyewitness account chronicles the transformation of a country, and of Che himself, from troop doctor to revolutionary icon.

''Che''s life is an inspiration for every human being who loves freedom'' Nelson Mandela