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News of a Kidnapping by Gabriel García Márquez - 4* - My Review

In this work of non-fiction published in 1996, Gabriel García Márquez describes the kidnappings and captivities of ten Colombian journalists abducted by a group called the “Extraditables.” They were a group of narcotraffickers led by Pablo Escobar. Escobar’s objective in ordering the kidnappings was to bully the Colombian government into banning extradition, which would mean they would be imprisoned in Colombia rather than face more severe penalties in other countries, particularly the United States.

The author portrays the responses of the hostages’ families and their actions to free them. He recounts the entire event in the context of Colombia's ongoing struggle to combat the illegal drug trade. The storyline focuses on the victims, the conditions they faced, and their thoughts, fears, and responses to captivity. There are many players, including President Gaviria, a high-profile priest, a family of drug trafficking brothers who turned themselves into authorities, and relatives of the victims, many of whom have connections to the government officials (one of the reasons they were taken hostage).

As the account unfolds, there are many people involved, and the author does an excellent job of describing the pressures and difficulties that must be overcome to ensure a workable plan. He depicts the anguish of the victims’ families as they try to influence the negotiations. García Márquez is a skilled writer who can weave together these complex elements into a cohesive whole. It almost felt like reading a historical fiction. Unfortunately, it was all too real, and the outcome was not positive for all involved.

I think the text could have benefited from the inclusion of a list of participants and their functions / relationships, as well as a timeline of events. But overall, this book provides an informative account of the perils of the drug trade and the relationship between the narcotraffickers and the Colombian government. Readers can learn a lot from this book, especially those outside Colombia.

It is based on interviews, news accounts, broadcast media, and diaries kept by the hostages. It is a partial glimpse of a harrowing period in Colombian history. Definitely worth reading. I read the English translation by Edith Grossman.