Of all the peoples in Latin America, Louis A. Perez Jr argues, none have been more familiar to the United States than Cubans - who in turn have come to know their northern neighbours equally well. Focusing on what President McKinley called ""the ties of singular intimacy"" linking the destinies of the two societies, Perez examines the points at which they have made contact - poltically, culturally, economically - and explores the dilemmas that proximity to the United States has posed to Cubans in their quest for national identity. This third edition has been updated to cover such developments of recent years as the renewed debate over American trade sanctions against Cuba, the Elian Gonzalez controversy and increased cultural exchanges between the two countries.