CHE: A REVOLUTIONARY ICON

Che is the story of the man behind the famous photograph—a richly illustrated biography of the Marxist revolutionary, guerrilla leader, military theorist, and pop icon.

Che Guevara was a Marxist revolutionary and an ally of Fidel Castro who became a major figure during the Cuban Revolution. Born into a middle-class family in Rosario, Argentina, he studied medicine, but after seeing terrible poverty in Latin America, he concluded that the only way to change society was through violent rebellion. He then became a champion for worldwide revolution.

Since his death, Guevara has become a legendary political figure. His name is often equated with rebellion, revolution, and socialism. Others, however, remember that he could be ruthless and ordered prisoners executed without trial in Cuba. In any case, Guevara’s life continues to be a subject ofgreat public interest and has been explored and portrayed in numerous books and films, including The Motorcycle Diaries.

On October 9, 1967, he was executed by the Bolivian army, his hands were cut off, and preserved in formaldehyde to confirm his identity. After he died, “Che” became an even bigger hero for revolution with Time magazine naming him one of the 100 most influential people of the twentieth century and an iconic photograph of him being cited as “the most famous photograph in the world.”