43 pages 1 hour read

Gabriel García Márquez, Transl. Gregory Rabassa

The Autumn of the Patriarch

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1975

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Before You Read

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Super Short Summary

The Autumn of the Patriarch by Gabriel García Márquez, translated by Gregory Rabassa, chronicles the life and death of a nameless Caribbean dictator, known as the General of the Universe, who manipulates a double, evades assassinations, and brutally maintains power while descending into paranoia and despair. Themes of murder, sexual assault, and pervasive violence are prevalent throughout the narrative.

Reviews & Readership

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Review Roundup

Gabriel García Márquez's The Autumn of the Patriarch, translated by Gregory Rabassa, is a richly detailed exploration of power and decay. Praised for its poetic prose and vivid imagery, some find its dense narrative and nonlinear structure challenging. Overall, the novel is a masterful, if demanding, work of magical realism.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Autumn of the Patriarch?

Readers who revel in One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez or 1984 by George Orwell will find The Autumn of the Patriarch intriguing. This novel caters to those who appreciate magical realism, complex political narratives, and a deep exploration of power and corruption.

Recommended

Reading Age

18+years

Book Details

Genre

Magical Realism

Latin American Literature

Historical Fiction

Themes

Values/Ideas: Power & Greed

Life/Time: Mortality & Death

Society: Politics & Government

Topics

History: World