Gabriel Garcia Marquez: Chronicle Of A Death Foretold: A Reader's Companion

by Santwana Haldar

The book discusses Marquez’s contribution to Latin American literature and offers a detailed analysis of his unique mystery novel Chronicle of a Death Foretold. The work is a social satire on contemporary Latin American society.

Genres: Fiction, Classics, Spanish Literature

159 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[Nenad · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the rare novels of Gabriel Garcia Marquez that does not fall into the genre of magical realism that he's so famous for popularizing.

One of the most interesting aspects of this book is that the main plot (the fact that the main character is being assassined) is made known in the very first sentence of the novel. What ensues is a sort of police chronic that where the narrator, some 27 years after the event, captures the statements and experiences of other inhabitants of the village where the gruesome assassination took place. The narrator tries to understand how everything happened the way it did since nearly everyone knew what was going to happen.

Another interesting aspect of novel is how the time line of events is irregularly followed and layered by interjecting events from different moments of the last day in life of the murdered protagonist.

If you know Spanish, you may enjoy this novel even more.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely powerful, based on a true story, typically brilliant writing of this amazingly talented man who is so versatile and extraordinary a writer it nearly leaves me breathless.

What I am reviewing is Marquez' book, NOT anything by Santwana Haldar.

[gema romerog · Rating 4 out of 5]

pff me encanta como escribe joder macho q pena q sea un fuckin pedofilo

[Reema · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was originally published in 1981. Way before I was born. The mentality of people and the culture that is mentioned in the book is really hard to fathom, especially when you are reading it in 2023. You are thankful that you, as a woman, were not born and were not adults in that era. I hated reading the parts where women were treated as a burden or a woman's chastity was tested, whereas it is socially accepted if a man sleeps around.

Marquez displays his true journalistic background in this short novel. Moving effortlessly from past to present and seamlessly interweaving accounts from a myriad of characters and his own perceptions, he presents us with a riveting account of a 27 year-old killing. There is a dreamlike quality about his language and style that I found very entertaining.

[Emilie · Rating 4 out of 5]

i really liked how the author creates suspense although we already know what’s going to happen

not feminist tho — the whole story is based on how a woman was sent back to her family because she had sex before marriage

[Serena Spencer-jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

On the strength of MAriella Frostrup's quote on it's cover I went ahead and bought this!

Yes it's a wonderful example of his work and I too loved it's beautiful fable-esque style.

[Rob Dodd · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actaually read the book rather than the review, it was a great read and I was pretty hooked on the unusual plot!!

[Ramiro Zambrano · Rating 5 out of 5]

nice

[Dea Avila]

excellent

[Kelsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful, haunting, and an escape from reality as it is really intriguing. A pretty quick read as well.

[Denise Estêvão · Rating 4 out of 5]

An incredible mind blowing mystery of a murder. As usually written with much detail, in a way that with his written words, the reader would be able to portrait the scene in a canvas. Being the first book I read from this great author, I was perplexed with his ability to use simple vocabulary to originate such complexity. A warning to the youngest, a dictionary might come in hand to understand some of his antique vocabulary and expressions from latin america.

[Gene Cords · Rating 3 out of 5]

This simple story comes to mind so many times in somany situations: a partial quote is "...everyone knew it was going to happen but no one did anything..." Happens all the time and Marquez told that vey carefully.A great short read.

[Yoli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Es un muy buen libro, leer a García Marquez es complicado, pero éste libro es muy muy muy bueno, te tiene siempre con la tensión de saber qué pasa, es excelente!!

[Dani Paola E V · Rating 5 out of 5]

Buen libro, lleno de humor pero al mismo tiempo de tragedia.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite of his novelas... A hella good book!

[Hildy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and sweet story of a much anticipated death as seen by differant members of a small town. This is a story as only "Gabo" can tell.

[Michael · Rating 2 out of 5]

don't listen to your lit teachers, kids. this one is required reading cuz it's short.

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

DENSE!! Good stuff though.

[Beatrix14]

Imágenes, relación entre los finales...Onomástica bíblica, metáforas, bla bla bla

[Giane]

The best book I've ever read!!! I just couldn't put it down!!!

[Ana Ishiki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding!

[Berenice Peralta]

everyone in the town knew that they were going to tell him. but no one said a thing. this book that took place in a day of events led to the past and the future.

[Penny · Rating 4 out of 5]

great

[Fabiana]

i didnt like that much...

[Esmeralda Plangesis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gabriel Garcia Marquez's masterpiece,in opinion! A gory tale of "murder, mystery & suspense"-i.e. difficult to put down until the last page!

[Bora 1234 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing! I read the whole book for only day; I had never done such thing before:P it was stronger than me, I couldn't stop. Definitely worth reading.

[Rebeca Paz · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Paola · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novella is a great read. So much better than "Love in the Time of Cholera."

[Ludvig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read and full of magical things.

[Jasdal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant book -full of foreboding - magical realism at its beat