Fidel Castro's legacy: 'True to his convictions'

Source: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-20121342

• 26 November 2016
 
• From the sectionLatin America & Caribbean

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Image captionFidel Castro stayed true to his convictions throughout his time in power

Fidel Castro was a towering presence in Cuba for more than 50 years. Dr Stephen Wilkinson, editor of the International Journal of Cuban Studies, assesses his legacy.

For Cuban poet Nicolas Guillen, there was a direct link between two of the biggest figures in his nation's history.

In a poem from 1977, he wrote: "Lo que Marti prometio, Fidel lo cumplio" ("What Marti promised, Fidel delivered").

Guillen's poem refers to Cuban independence hero Jose Marti, the inspirational figure in Castro's own political life.

Marti promised a Cuba free of US interference and, famously, a republic that would be as he put it: "For all Cubans and the good of all Cubans."