43 pages • 1 hour read
The Autumn of the Patriarch
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Book Brief
The Autumn of the Patriarch
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1975255
Novel • Fiction
Unnamed Caribbean Nation • 20th Century
1975
Adult
18+ years
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.
Mysterious
Dark
Melancholic
Unnerving
Bittersweet
Reviews & Readership
24,871 ratings
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Mixed feelings
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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 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.
24,871 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Patricio Aragonés
Patricio Aragonés
The General's double, whose body is forcibly altered to mirror the General's, highlighting the lengths of control exerted around him.
General Rodrigo de Aguilar
General Rodrigo de Aguilar
The General's loyal official, wielding immense authority as the minister of defense and experiencing a life-changing injury in an explosion.
Bendición Alvarado
Bendición Alvarado
The General's mother, who retains humble habits despite her son's power and symbolizes his past before his rise to rule.
Manuela Sánchez
Manuela Sánchez
A beauty queen who becomes a love interest of the General but desires only to secure resources for her people.
Leticia Nazareno
Leticia Nazareno
A missionary nun abducted by the General who uses her proximity to power to her advantage, contrasting with Manuela.
Emanuel, Son of the General
Emanuel, Son of the General
The General's son, representing a God-like figure, who is prepared to be the heir but faces a premature demise.
José Ignacio Saenz de la Barra
José Ignacio Saenz de la Barra
An ornate figure who brings violence and chaos as he promises to avenge the General's family, leading to significant turmoil in the nation.
255
Novel • Fiction
Unnamed Caribbean Nation • 20th Century
1975
Adult
18+ years
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