43 pages • 1 hour read
255
Novel • Fiction
Unnamed Caribbean Nation • 20th Century
1975
Adult
18+ years
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
24,871 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
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.
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
255
Novel • Fiction
Unnamed Caribbean Nation • 20th Century
1975
Adult
18+ years
Continue your reading experience
Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.