Morag reviewed Chronicle of a Death Foretold by Gabriel García Márquez
Disappointing
2 stars
A lot of words to say very little. Maybe it's a poor translation.
eBook, 120 pages
English language
Published Jan. 1, 2021 by Lovers of Book Press.
Chronicle of a Death Foretold (Spanish: Crónica de una muerte anunciada) is a novella by Gabriel García Márquez, published in 1981. It tells, in the form of a pseudo-journalistic reconstruction, the story of the murder of Santiago Nasar by the Vicario twins.
A lot of words to say very little. Maybe it's a poor translation.
Chronicle of a Death Foretold is a short novel I would never have picked up if it hadn't been good advice from Ariel and Doug. This is a cautionary tale of the kind of senseless horror that happens when an isolated community makes harsh demands on women and then demands accountability when these demands are not met. It's brutal revenge in the name of honor, and Gabriel Garcia Marquez reaches out of the page and makes everyone an accomplice. It is an artful allegory and an excellent example of the magical realism style for which the author is known.
Chronicle of a Death Foretold can be read in a day, so if you have a day, it's worth the read.