No One Writes to the Colonel and Other Stories

by Gabriel García Márquez

Book Overview

Written with compassionate realism and wit, the stories in this mesmerizing collection depict the disparities of town and village life in South America, of the frightfully poor and outrageously rich, of memories and illusions, and of lost opportunities and present joys.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060751576
• ISBN13: 9780060751579
• Release Date: February 2005
• Publisher: Harper Perennial
• Length: 170 Pages
• Weight: 0.34 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.3" x 7.9"

Customer Reviews

Sad and Depressing but such a well written story

Every time when I'm feeling lonely, I always say "No one writes to the Colonel". That's the feeling that you take away from this book, I def would not recommend this book if your standing on the edge of the rooftop cause you probably will jump (then again i don't recommend reading on edges of rooftops either). The book tells a story of a aging, dying, old man, who fought alongside General Buendia in his heyday, who is waiting for pension from the war day after day. He lost his son, his wife is dying everyday from asthma, he sold all his belongings to pay for food including his son prize fighting cock, all he have left is the hope that one day all his troubles will end when finally receive his pension. One of the central theme in this book is "money isn't everything unless you don't have any".

Another great short story

As usual, Garcia Marquez delivers. Serious social commentary - all of us know about folks who serve their country in wars, to live in poverty and neglect when they return home - but great story!

Colonel

An excellent translation of Garcia Marques's short stories. The work is exact word by word. Wish they publish the original in Spanish as well. As a student of Spanish literary, this work is a great help.

short stories from marquez

a series of short stories from marquez that intrique the reader in the same sense his other novels have accomplished

Despair Continues With Phantasmic Hope !

Gabo's fatalism,meloncholy and agony continues in this Chef d'oeuvre making the reader believe that life is Despair as Kafka or Samuel Beckett experienced it.It's about a Colonel who had fought against the government for liberty, rights and freedom ..But after the Truce , the colonel still awaits his mail(pension).The mail and the Rooster are the only hope which are Keeping him alive with his wife..Full of Compassion , sympathy and sufferings .. A must read. If El Dorado ever existed in South America ,then Macondo- the oppsite- also exists there.