42 pages • 1 hour read
The Story of a Shipwrecked Sailor
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Book Brief
The Story of a Shipwrecked Sailor
Nonfiction | Biography | Adult | Published in 1955128
Biography • Nonfiction
Caribbean Sea • 1950s
1955
Adult
14+ years
Super Short Summary
The Story of a Shipwrecked Sailor by Gabriel García Márquez recounts Luis Alejandro Velasco's harrowing ordeal of surviving 10 days adrift on a raft in the Caribbean after being washed overboard from the Colombian destroyer Caldas, which was actually overloaded with contraband. Initially hailed as a hero, Velasco's true story exposed governmental corruption, causing a political scandal.
Mysterious
Suspenseful
Challenging
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Gabriel García Márquez's The Story of a Shipwrecked Sailor receives praise for its gripping, true-life adventure and masterful storytelling. Critics commend Márquez's engaging narrative and vivid depictions. However, some readers find the story's pace slow at times. Overall, it's hailed for its compelling and thought-provoking portrayal of survival.
Who Should Read The Story of a Shipwrecked Sailor?
Readers who enjoy gripping survival tales and vivid narrative journalism will be captivated by Gabriel García Márquez’s The Story of a Shipwrecked Sailor. Fans of Yann Martel’s Life of Pi and Alfred Lansing’s Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage will appreciate the detailed, real-life account of human resilience and the powerful storytelling.
Luis Alejandro Velasco
Luis Alejandro Velasco
Luis Alejandro Velasco is a young sailor serving aboard the Colombian destroyer Caldas and becomes the sole survivor of a shipwreck on his voyage back to Cartagena, Colombia.
Luis Rengifo
Luis Rengifo
Luis Rengifo is a crew member on the Caldas, known for his competency as a seaman and his ability to speak English, who perishes in the shipwreck incident.
Ramón Herrera
Ramón Herrera
Ramón Herrera is Velasco's friend on the ship Caldas and is remembered for his sense of humor and mimicry of a popular musician, offering Velasco solace during his ordeal.
Jaime Manjarrés
Jaime Manjarrés
Jaime Manjarrés is Velasco's oldest friend in the navy and appears to Velasco in hallucinations during his time adrift, symbolizing emotional support.
128
Biography • Nonfiction
Caribbean Sea • 1950s
1955
Adult
14+ years
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