No One Writes to the Colonel (International Writers S.)

Book Details

• Author: Gabriel Garcia Marquez

• Publisher: Penguin

• Language: English, Spanish

• Edition: New Edition

• ISBN: 9780140157499

• Pages: 80

• Cover: Paperback

• Package Dimensions: 7.4 x 5.0 x 0.4 inches

About the Book

No One Writes To The Colonel by Gabriel Garcia Marquez presents a deeply moving narrative set in the backdrop of post-civil war Colombia. The novella tells the story of an aging, retired war veteran, who is now living in poverty with his wife, clinging to the hope of receiving his long-awaited pension. Promised fifteen years ago for his service during the Thousand Days' War, the pension has yet to arrive, forcing the colonel and his wife to scrape by on limited means, struggling to survive with barely enough for food and medication.

Each week, the colonel waits eagerly for the postman, whose arrival on Fridays brings a fleeting hope that this time, the pension will finally come. His anticipation is underscored by the hardships he and his wife face, compounded by the wife’s chronic asthma. Despite the years of waiting, the colonel's resilience remains, as he continues to believe that the ship carrying his letter will soon dock and deliver the long-desired news.

The colonel's only companion in this period of uncertainty is his rooster, which becomes a symbol of optimism in the face of adversity. As the story unfolds, it brings to light themes of hope, poverty, and the persistence of the human spirit.

Adapted into a film in 1999, this short but poignant tale remains an evocative exploration of life’s fragility and the quiet dignity of waiting. It’s a brilliant reflection on the power of dreams and the emotional toll of waiting for something promised but never delivered.