The Great Works of Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Starting out studying law and then jumping into the world of journalism in his early career, Gabriel Garcia Marquez surprised the world when he went on to write the century's most well-known piece of magical realism, One Hundred Years of Solitude. Despite his deep association with the arena of fantastical fiction, Marquez's published works include a plethora of writing styles, literary genres, and subject matter. One Hundred Years may have rocketed Marquez into fame and saved him from bankruptcy, but it is not his only work of art that is of note.



(In chronological order):


The Autumn of the Patriarch (1975) 


This work is what I call "political fiction." In this novel, Marquez satirizes the right-wing dictators of Latin America with his character "the General of the Universe." According to Sameer Rahim, "This leader of a Caribbean island has the time changed on a whim, fathers 5,000 children and fixes it so that he always win the lottery." Although I have not read the novel, it sounds similar to One Hundred Years in that it draws from real Latin American history and uses hyperbole and absurdity to highlight the true problems Marquez's society faced.






Love in the Time of Cholera (1985)
Marquez dives into the realm of romantic fiction (not surprising, given "love" is in the title). One of his most famous novels, Love in the Time of Cholera is a departure from his more political literature, such as One Hundred Years and The Autumn of the Patriarch, and is based on his parents' love story.

News of a Kidnapping (1996)
Although he is famous for his works of fiction, Marquez attacks the real-life story of the kidnapping of eight Colombian journalists by the Medellin Cartel with vigor in News of a Kidnapping. Marquez's subject matter comes from firsthand accounts from some of the victims. 










Living to Tell the Tale (2002)
It is not surprising that in the later years of his life, one of the most renowned authors of the twentieth century would decide to write an autobiography. Although Rahim mentions that the lines between reality and fiction may have been blurred for the purpose of entertainment, fans of Marquez were happy to get more insight into Marquez's life from his own perspective. 



Sources:

"Gabriel Garcia Marquez: five essential works" by Sameer Rahim
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/10745019/Gabriel-Garcia-Marquez-five-essential-works.html

"The Best Books by Gabriel Garcia Marquez that You Must Read" by Maria Angelica Maia 
https://theculturetrip.com/south-america/colombia/articles/the-best-books-by-gabriel-garcia-marquez-you-must-read/