Close But No Cigar

by Stephen Purvis
Close But No Cigar cover
Good Books rating 4.42
Biography and Memoir
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  • ID: 2868
  • Added: 2025-10-16
  • Updated: 2025-10-16
  • ISBN: 9781474605076
  • Publisher: Hachette UK
  • Published: 2017-03-23
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 3

Stephen Purvis, a British businessman living in Havana, finds his life upended when he is arrested by Cuban State Security during Raúl Castro's purges. Taken to the notorious Villa Marista interrogation center, he endures brutal conditions designed by the KGB and Stasi, facing paranoia and incompetence from his jailers. His story takes a darkly comedic turn as he navigates the farcical legal system and is eventually released, revealing the corrupt and dictatorial nature of the Castro regime./n/nPurvis's memoir is a thrilling and witty account of his fifteen-month ordeal, filled with vivid characters and sharp observations. It offers a unique perspective on modern Cuba, contrasting the tourist-friendly facade with the harsh reality of life under an oppressive regime. His experiences shed light on the ongoing struggles of those who dare to challenge the status quo in a country frozen in time.

Reviews
The Telegraph · 2017-04-02
brutal 4.00

The review highlights the physical and emotional toll on the author and his wife, describing the ordeal of finding psychiatric care in Cuba as a nightmare.

The Telegraph's review of Close But No Cigar delves into the profound physical and emotional toll that the author, Stephen Purvis, and his wife endured during their imprisonment in Cuba. The reviewer notes that Purvis lost a significant amount of weight and that his wife required hospitalization, making the search for psychiatric care in Cuba an additional nightmare. The review underscores the brutality and inefficiency of the Cuban prison system, painting a picture of a regime that is both oppressive and indifferent to human suffering. The memoir is commended for its raw and unfiltered account of these harrowing experiences.

Quick quotes

    Purvis lost 50lbs in weight, and his wife had to be hospitalised.

    The ordeal of finding psychiatric care for her in Cuba was a nightmare all of its own.

    The memoir is a stark reminder of the human cost of political imprisonment.

Goodreads · 2017-03-23
gripping 4.75

The memoir is compared to a Graham Greene story, with a cast of characters that would make Hemingway proud, highlighting its tragic absurdity.

Goodreads' review of Close But No Cigar draws a compelling comparison to the works of Graham Greene, noting the tragic absurdity that permeates the narrative. The reviewer praises the cast of characters, suggesting they are vivid and memorable enough to impress even Ernest Hemingway. The memoir is described as a gripping account of the author's fifteen-month ordeal in a Cuban prison, filled with moments of both tragedy and dark humor. The review highlights the book's ability to captivate readers with its unflinching portrayal of life under Castro's regime, making it a standout in the genre of political memoirs.

Quick quotes

    In its tragic absurdity, Close But No Cigar reads like a Graham Greene story, with a cast of characters to make Hemingway proud.

    The memoir is a gripping account of a year spent in a Cuban prison on trumped-up charges.

    Stephen Purvis has the gift of storytelling that brings the grim reality of Cuban prisons to life.

The Guardian · 2017-03-19
harrowing 4.50

The memoir is described as powerful, with the title reflecting the author's admission of how life can go wrong. The review highlights the harrowing experiences and the stark reality of life in a Cuban jail.

The Guardian's review of Close But No Cigar emphasizes the book's powerful narrative, which offers a stark and harrowing account of life in a Cuban jail. The reviewer notes that the title itself is a poignant admission by the author of how drastically life can go wrong. The memoir is praised for its gripping portrayal of the author's ordeal, providing a vivid and unflinching look at the realities of imprisonment under Castro's regime. The review suggests that the book is a must-read for those interested in understanding the human cost of political oppression.

Quick quotes

    The title of his powerful memoir, Close but No Cigar, is his own admission of just how badly life can go wrong.

    I last saw Purvis in Havana in 2003, a few months before he was arrested.

    The book is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity.

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