Desire for Solitude and Gabriel García Márquez

Gabriel Garcia Marquez was born in Aracataca, Colombia. A young Gabriel grew up listening to his grandmother’s tales. His grandmother helped them sustain through the meager resources keeping them enthralled by her sense of unreality. She would tell her grandson fantastic tales that she conjured almost bringing the unreality to life. 

Young Gabriel published his first story while in college and later became a journalist. He led a “Bohemian Life” as he would recall and pursue his passion of creating magical realism. He combined the traditional story telling with vivid fantasy. Colombia at that time was reeling under colonial oppression. Through his book ‘One Hundred Years of Solitude’ published in 1967, the world came face-to-face with the sufferings of the banana plantation workers. The devastation that was caused due to colonization and yet amidst the poverty and stories of disposition he was able to weave stories of love and mad humor. His work received international acclaim and his book sold millions of copies. Surprisingly he mentioned that his English translation of the original written in Spanish, read better.

‘Love in the time of Cholera’, is yet another of his creation that drew global audience. The book was based partially on his parent’s courtship, which was later, adapted into a film starring Javier Bardem.

Gabriel Garcia Marquez wrote 7 novels during his life. He was diagnosed with cancer in late 1990s and passed away in April 17^th, 2017 in Mexico City.

By: Madhuchanda Saxena

Content: https://thewire.in/229940/the-man-who-unravelled-solitude-celebrating-marquez-on-his-91st-birth-anniversary/