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Overview

Columbian author Gabriel García Márquez’s One Hundred Years of Solitude, published in 1967, is a landmark work of magical realism that tells the multi-generational saga of the Buendía family in the fictional town of Macondo. The novel blends reality and fantasy, weaving a tapestry of enchanting and tragic events. Set in an unnamed Latin American country, the narrative unfolds with elements of political turmoil, love, family ties, and the inexorable passage of time.

The setting of One Hundred Years of Solitude is integral to the narrative, as Macondo becomes a microcosm of the larger Latin American experience. García Márquez draws inspiration from the region's history and politics, creating a vivid and fantastical world that mirrors the complexities of real-life events, including the Colombian civil wars and the United Fruit Company’s influence in the region.

Historically, the novel is situated in a time marked by political upheavals and social transformations in Latin America during the 20th century. García Márquez’s use of magical realism serves as a literary tool to explore and comment on the historical and cultural dynamics of the region. One Hundred Years of Solitude remains a masterpiece that continues to captivate readers and inspire writers worldwide.

Explore the full plot summary, an in-depth analysis of José Arcadio Buendía, and explanations of important quotes from One Hundred Years of Solitude.

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