Episode 285: Tony Perrottet and ‘The Butcher of Havana’

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By Brendan O’Meara

Tony Perrottet is a journalist, historian, and author of six books.

His latest piece is “The Butcher of Havana,” this for The Atavist Magazine.

We talk about the central figure, Herman Marks, an American who became the chief executioner for the Cuban revolutionaries. It’s an incredibly gripping read.

In our talk we chat about the literary scene and the fascination people like Tennessee Williams, Ernest Hemingway, and George Plimpton had with Marks and Cuba, the structure of the piece, keeping the narrative humming and not bogged down by court drama, and much, much more.

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