THE SUGAR KING OF HAVANA The Rise and Fall of Julio Lobo, Cuba's Last Tycoon

The author details the story of Julio Lobo, billed as “Cuba’s last tycoon.” Rathbone’s rags-to-riches story about a capitalist with incredibly sharp business acumen parallels the history of the island nation as it endures revolutionary growing pains. Lobo comes across as larger than life as he makes astute market predictions in sugar, battles with government and business foes, consorts with American movie starlets, and ends up in exile. Simon Vance, always versatile, always consistent, comes across with an appropriate aristocratic tone. The listener learns about the triumphs and losses of a powerful business magnate as well as a nation’s historical evolution. M.B. © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine [Published: JANUARY 2011]