A connoisseur of West Indian antiques and architecture, Michael Connors returns to Grand Cayman for his third book presentation, discussion and signing since late 2009. Join him at Books & Books on Friday, February 17 at 7pm for a Cuban fiesta celebrating the release of his latest book, The Splendor of Cuba: 450 Years of Architecture and Interiors. Enjoy a visual tour of stunning and architecturally significant Cuban palacios, mansions and private homes. Purchase a copy of the book, have it signed by the author and enjoy a complimentary mojito along with a selection of bocaditos.

This free event is part of the Books & Books International Visiting Author Series, generously sponsored by Camana Bay, the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism and Sunshine Suites Resort.

About the Book

At a time when more travellers are rediscovering Cuba, this lavishly illustrated volume offers a different view of the island’s cultural achievements. If you feel you have seen exhibitions and books of formerly beautiful, gently deteriorating Cuban architecture, Michael Connors’ The Splendor of Cuba will be a quiet revelation. It presents not the Cuba of Castro’s era, with its derelict buildings and peeling paint, but the secret and extraordinarily well preserved opulence of colonial Spanish Creole aristocracy, with its Mudejar craftsmanship, classically inspired grand mansions and baroque palacios, coffee plantations (cafetales) and sugarcane plantations (ingenios).

Exceptional preservation work has kept these villas in their magnificent original state, and the photographs, shot exclusively for this book, show examples in each area of the island—from the interiors and exteriors in Havana, Santiago de Cuba, Santa Clara, Cienfuegos, and Pinar del Río to close-up details of courtyards, balconies, galleries, balustrades, grilles, and louvered doors in Trinidad, Matanzas, and Holguín. Also included is Finca Vigía (“Lookout Farm”), the former residence of Ernest Hemingway.

For anyone with an interest in this storied island, The Splendor of Cuba will be a true discovery, and a volume to be treasured.

The Splendor of Cuba and other books by Michael Connors are now available at Books & Books.

About the Author

Michael Connors, an expert in Caribbean antiques and architecture, has over thirty years of experience in writing, consultation, and teaching in fine and decorative arts. He received his Ph.D. in Decorative Arts from New York University where he taught for fifteen years. Dr. Connors is a contributor to numerous publications, including Art & Antiques, Antiques and Fine Art and The Magazine Antiques. He has also written many books including Caribbean Houses: History, Style, and Architecture and British West Indies Style, both of which he presented at Books & Books, Grand Cayman.
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