Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #199298 in Books
• Published on: 2003-01-01
• Original language: Spanish
• Binding: Paperback
• 98 pages

Customer Reviews

A story on injustice and violence
No one writes to the Colonel was written by Gabriel Garcia Marquez in Paris, when the newspaper where he worked closed and he resumed to poverty. It is the story of a Colombian Revolution Colonel who has been waiting for his veteran-pension for 15 years. He lives with his sick wife a monotonous but strenuous life, where everyday is a miracle to be able to survive. It is a slow pace story, to match the slow and sad life of the characters, to transmit the resignation and hope of this man. It is a story about politics and dictatorship. It doesn't make you fell sorry for the couple, but rather fell angry about that country, it's fake revolution and it's politicians. It is a story on injustice and violence, a man that after serving for his country is condemned to survive without money, trying to keep his son's dream and death alive.

An interesting, but depressing read
Having read this amongst many, many hispanic writers, I can fairly say that unless you are a devout fan of Marquez, this is not the most encouraging of reads. The story follows that of an old man and his never-ending wait, with his wife and rooster, it depicts perfectly the pointlessness of life and the misery of nothingness. In fact this is very depressing. In this sense it does its job perfectly.

It is rightfully not the best known of Marquez's novels, and therefore recommend 'chronicas de una muerte anunciada' as a much more satisfying novel for those who have already read 'Cien años de soledad' and 'Amor en el tiempo de cholera'.

How an old man waits and waits for his pension money.
The general is retired and very poor. His wife and him live in near poverty, with only a pet rooster for company. It's a sad and touching story, about human nature, the endurance of the soul, and the hope that never dies.