Gabriel Garcia Marquez is Latin America's most internationally famous and successful author, and a winner of the Nobel Prize. His oeuvre of great modern novels includes One Hundred Years of Solitude and Love in the Time of Cholera. His name has become closely associated with Magical Realism, a phenomenon that has been immensely influential in world literature. This Companion includes new and probing readings of all of Garcia Marquez's works, by leading international specialists. His life in Colombia, the context of Latin American history and culture, key themes in his works and their critical reception are explored in detail. Written for students and readers of Garcia Marquez, the Companion is accessible for non-Spanish speakers and features a chronology and a guide to further reading. This insightful and lively book will provide an invaluable framework for the further study and enjoyment of this major figure in world literature.

Table of Contents

Chronology; Introduction Philip Swanson; 1. Gabriel Garcia Marquez: life and times Gene H. Bell-Villada; 2. The critical reception of Garcia Marquez Donald Shaw; 3. Before One Hundred Years of Solitude: the early novels Robin Fiddian; 4. One Hundred Years of Solitude Philip Swanson; 5. An eco-critical reading of One Hundred Years of Solitude Raymond L. Williams; 6. The Autumn of the Patriarch Steven Boldy; 7. The General in His Labyrinth Gerald Martin; 8. Garcia Marquez's novels of love Mark I. Millington; 9. Garcia Marquez's short fiction Stephen Hart; 10. Garcia Marquez's non-fiction writings Robert L. Sims; 11. Garcia Marquez in film and other media Claire Taylor; 12. Garcia Marquez and world fiction Michael Bell; Further reading Pascale Baker; Index.

About the Author

Philip Swanson is Hughes Professor of Spanish and Chair of the School of Modern Languages and Linguistics at the University of Sheffield.

Reviews

'... deserves a place too in the libraries of academic institutions where courses are offered on modern Latin American literature. ... maintains the high standards already set by other volumes in the series.' Reference Reviews