... No wonder he wrote this book in France, and he hasn't returned in many years.
Nobody writes to the colonel (el coronel no tiene le escriba) is a thing much associated to this book. Every week or so, he goes to the ports to see if he has post. Every time he goes, he never has any luck getting ... Read review
Advantages: Great Writing Disadvantages: Depressing
...censorship took over people's lives. No wonder he wrote this book in France, and he hasn't returned in many years.
Nobody writes to the colonel (el coronel no tiene le escriba) is a thing much associated to this book. Every week or so, he goes to the ports to see if he has post. Every time he goes, he never has any luck getting post, and he always is embarrassed for the fact that he still hopes he will be sent a letter regarding his ... ...a lot more negative. She is ashamed of her lifestyle, she wants her husband to get his pension, although she is sure it won't happen, she doesn't believe that 'el gallo' is doing them any good. She has bad asthma, although her doctor (el medico) says it isn't as bad as she thinks.
The couple live only in memory of their son. He had looked after them for many years, and his death only happened a couple of years before the start of the ... more
A few years ago, I had to study this book for Spanish AS level, and indeed, I enjoyed every moment of it.
The story is about a Colonel (el coronel) who lives with his wife (su mujer) in really poor conditions. Is it set in the 1950's, a time of censorship (la censura) and change. The Coronel throughout his life only lives on the fact that one day he will receive his war pension and the only hope for income he has before this is his fighting cock (el gallo), which he feeds using most of their small income.
'El Coronel' is the epitome of hope. Although the war of 100 days ended 50 years before, he still hopes that his war pension will become reality. In the book, we see how corrupt the world of Colombia is, and how its censorship took over people's lives. No wonder he wrote this book in France, and he hasn't returned in many years.
Nobody writes to the colonel (el coronel no tiene le escriba) is a thing much associated to this book. Every week or so, he goes to the ports to see if he has post. Every time he goes, he never has any luck getting post, and he always is embarrassed for the fact that he still hopes he will be sent a letter regarding his war pension.
On contrast, 'la Mujer' is a lot more negative. She is ashamed of her lifestyle, she wants her husband to get his pension, although she is sure it won't happen, she doesn't believe that 'el gallo' is doing them any good. She has bad asthma, although her doctor (el medico) says it isn't as bad as she thinks.
The couple live only in memory of their son. He had looked after them for many years, and his death only happened a couple of years before the start of the book. ‘El Medico’, when he appears, seems to be like their son. He is kind to them, and works for free. He jokes to ‘la mujer’ a lot, and especially she seems to be fond of him. ‘El Medico’ always speaks to ‘El Coronel’ like a father. They talk together about news and politics, a thing we find out that ‘el Coronel’ and the son used to do as well.
Leading on from this, ‘el medico’ and ‘el coronel’ speak about change (la censura) which is, as I have said, a recurring theme through out the book. In the third chapter (tercer capitulo), there is a discussion they have about boats (las lanchas) and planes (los aviones). El medico, the person of the new, says how much better planes are than boats, while El coronel says the opposite. Planes were a very new thing in the 50’s, especially to South America, and el coronel could never understand that they are safe, ‘above the clouds and storms’, although he does admit they are fascinating to look at as well as being a clever invention.
If you haven’t read this book, and you are a Spanish student, think again. It is a enthralling book, and it doesn’t matter if you don’t do it for exams, it still is a ‘must-read’. If you don’t do Spanish, there is an English translation which should suit you well.
Lucien500 14.10.2004 (14.10.2004)
Ciao members have rated this review on average:
very helpful
Review of No One Writes to the Colonel - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Product Information for "No One Writes to the Colonel - Gabriel Garcia Marquez" »
Product details
Type
Fiction
Genre
Modern Fiction
Title
No One Writes to the Colonel
Author
Gabriel Garcia Marquez
ISBN
0140037764; 0141032537; 0224005308
Manufacturer's product description
The colonel took the top off the coffee can and saw that there was only one little spoonful left. Fridays are different. Every other day of the week, the Colonel and his ailing wife fight a constant battle against poverty and monotony, scraping together the dregs of their savings for the food and medicine that keeps them alive. But on Fridays the postman comes - and that sets a fleeting wave of hope rushing through the General's aging heart. For fifteen years he's watched the mail launch come into harbour, hoping he'll be handed an envelope containing the army pension promised to him all those years ago. Whilst he waits for the cheque, his hopes are pinned on his prize bird and the upcoming cockfighting season. But until then the bird - like the Colonel and his wife - must somehow be fed...
Compare No One Writes to the Colonel - Gabriel Garcia Marquez to other similar Modern Fiction Books »
Similar products and search queries by other users »
No Colonel, No One Colonel, No Writes Colonel, No to Colonel, No the Colonel, No One Writes Colonel, No One to Colonel, No One the Colonel, No Writes to Colonel, No Writes the Colonel, No to the Colonel, No One Writes to Colonel, No One Writes the Colonel, No One to the Colonel, No Writes to the Colonel
Are you the manufacturer / provider of No One Writes to the Colonel - Gabriel Garcia Marquez? Click here
![El coronel no tiene quien le escriba (No One Writes to the Colonel) [DVD]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/83364539.jpg "El coronel no tiene quien le escriba (No One Writes to the Colonel) [DVD]")
