Once upon a Time There Was Colombia

by Benjamín Villegas Jiménez

The complexity of a country in which violence and internal armed conflict coexist with enormous cultural, natural, and human riches is captured in this illuminating essay by a Colombian poet. A refreshed view of Colombia is proposed, shedding light on the possibility of a future in which the nation may become reconciled with itself. The accompanying photographs, all previously unpublished, are taken by some of Colombia's best photographers.

324 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 2006

Reviews

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Uno de los principales desvelos de los colombianos fue siempre la búsqueda de la corrección en el lenguaje. A ello se debe la vaga fama de hablar el mejor español en el continente, que más bien revela una larga persistencia del modelo colonial, una enorme resistencia a la incorporción de aportes originales, una fijación en el culto de la metrópoli y la entronización de lo castizo como canon inapelable."

William Ospina

[Juliana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly, I learnt more about Colombia's history with this beautiful essay than with the books I read when I was in high school.

This long essay captures your attention immediately, plus, the photographs are quite fascinating since Colombia's landscapes are amazing. This is a book every Colombian should read in order to know more about our origins and our evolution as a country. On the other hand, this essay can show a friendly face of Colombia to foreigners, which I think, will charm them.

William Ospina is such a great prose writer. He has already shown us his great talent through his other books and this should be a "must" in your book list.