The General in His Labyrinth

I recently read a history of the liberation of South America ("Liberators", by Richard Harvey), which, among other things, attuned me to the fact that Simón Bolívar was among the great men of history. Curious to read more about Bolívar, I decided to turn to García Márquez's novel THE GENERAL IN HIS LABYRINTH (Bolívar, of course, being the "General" of the title, and "General" being the title by which he is referred to throughout the course of the book).In structure, THE GENERAL IN HIS LABYRINTH covers the last seven months of Bolívar's life, beginning in May 1830. Thoroughly exasperated by the factionalism and selfishness of politics in the newly liberated South American countries, Bolívar determines to leave Bogotá and South America and go to Europe. At the time, he is only forty-six, but he is in very poor health, weighing only eighty-eight pounds (ten more than what he did seven months later). As matters develop, his self-imposed exile is oft-diverted, and he makes it no further than down the Magdalena River to a succession of coastal cities. All the while his health continues to deteriorate, but he continues to try to influence South American politics in favor of his dream of a united nation spanning the entire continent. As recounted by García Márquez, at the very end Bolívar "was shaken by the overwhelming revelation that the headlong race between his misfortunes and his dreams was at that moment reaching the finish line." "Damn it", Bolívar sighed. "How will I ever get out of this labyrinth!"There were two types involved in South American politics: the oligarchs and warlords who pursued their own fortunes, and those who looked to Bolívar for guidance as to where to head and then leadership in getting them there. Bolívar, however, had tuberculosis and his life-force gave out at age forty-seven, and ever since the plaint of much of South America has been expressed in the title to this review.In his account of the last seven months of Bolívar's life, García Márquez includes numerous flashbacks to significant events in the wars of liberation and the succeeding political turmoil, including, most prominently, the nearly successful effort to assassinate Bolívar in September 1828. In so doing, García Márquez touches on some of the more controversial events of Bolívar's life, especially his decision to execute the successful and popular revolutionary mulatto general Manuel Piar for insubordination. One such event that curiously is not mentioned is Bolívar's role in the betrayal to the Spanish of Francisco de Miranda, the revolutionary leader of the First Republic of Venezuela - an incident that has vexed Bolívar hero-worshippers ever since.In addition to the history, García Márquez gives the reader a superb portrait of Bolívar the man. Among other things, Bolívar was a voracious reader (until his eyesight failed him, after which he had friends read to him) and an even more voracious womanizer. At one of the tranquil moments during his last journey, a friend teasingly confronts Bolívar, "Confess, General: how many were there?" Bolívar dodges the question, "Many fewer than you think". That night, while Bolívar is taking his bath, his long-time valet José Palacios comments, "According to my calculations there were thirty-five. Not counting the one-night birds, of course." García Márquez adds, "The figure matched the General's own calculations."THE GENERAL IN HIS LABYRINTH is considered a novel, but it hews very closely to the facts. Virtually all of the characters are historical characters and almost all of the occurrences have, so I understand, a solid historical basis. Reportedly, García Márquez conducted considerable research before writing the book. As for the writing, it is magnificent. It flows majestically and inexorably, like the waters of the river of time. The last paragraph is one of the finest concluding paragraphs I have ever read. THE GENERAL IN HIS LABYRINTH is a superb book.

I recently read the author's acclaimed work "Love in the Time of Cholera" and enjoyed it very much. It spurred me to seek out more work by Marquez, hence this and several others that I recently purchased. My second foray into Marquez was "One Hundred Years of Solitude". I was very disappointed in that novel and concerned that I'd perhaps already seen the best he had to offer. Luckily, I followed up with "Love and Other Demons", finding it to be well worthwhile the effort. While not up to the standards of that novel, I nevertheless enjoyed this work.Marquez's writing is certainly unique in its earthiness. He deals with such subjects as sex, bodily functions and graphic illness as if they are parts of everyday life ... because they are. It is refreshing.Marquez is also known as one of the leading practitioners of the literary device of "magical realism" in which events are introduced into the story which are quite fantastic (for example, a character being swept away into the sky as though taken to heaven, a rain event that lasts over four years followed by an absolute drought of ten years). This was a major device used in One Hundred Years of Solitude and perhaps contributed to my dissatisfaction with that work.This work, on the other hand, is virtually a non-fiction work, having as its subject the final days of Simon Bolivar, the Liberator of the Americas. The General, at a very unhealthy 46 years of age has withdrawn from political life and announced his pending exile to Europe as he begins his journey in Bogota, floats down the Magdalena River, spends some time in Cartagena fomenting intrigue before his journey (and life) ends in Soledad.Throughout the odyssey, we witness the deteriorating physical condition (apparently tuberculosis) of the General as we are treated to numerous flashbacks of his fascinating life and adventures. The General is depressed and emotionally volatile as he witnesses the collapse of his lifetime dream and goal, the independence and unification of northern South America into a global super power. Even as the General wastes away, he observes the almost pre-ordained collapse of the fragile union of states and the pending insurrections and civil wars breaking out within them. It is a mess and he is powerless to prevent the carnage, though his very nature leads him to make the attempt.The author's writing is indisputably beautiful and at times mesmerizing. Much like LitToC, this is a haunting and compelling story, filled with sadness and regret. It is an intriguing look into the mind of one of the most compelling and important figures in world history.

I was intrigued with the life of Simon Bolivar & his passion for liberty not just for Venezuela he was equally passionate to drive the royalist Spaniards out of Latin America at any cost mostly personal cost Equally intriguing was his personal life and relationshipsGabriel G Marquez is a complex & passionate writer thus well suited to do Bolivar justice with his accounts of his final lonely trip and the troubled times before his death

I chose to first read this book 25 years ago. Its title spoke to me during a difficult time in my life. I had no knowledge of Gabriel Garcia Marquez. But after reading The General in His Labyrinth I fell in love with the language and imagery and sought other works by the author and learned of his international fame and mythical status in his native Colombia. If I could only read his writing in its original Spanish would I be able to venture into the soul of a literary master

Highly RecommendI've yet to read a single sentence - let alone novel - by Gabo that wasn't prose bordering on poetry. The General in his Labyrinth is no exception. This is a fairly quick read compared to some of Gabriel Garcia Marquez's other work, but the General's story is told with the same fantastical detail that characterizes all of Marquez's writing.

I admit, I knew nothing of Bolivar before reading this book; and I bought it mainly after watching "Looking for Alaska" on TV, to try and get an insight in to where the author of that story was going with Alaska's obsession with this book.This sort of historical biography is certainly not the type of literature I would normally read (I'm more of a Sci-Fi, Fiction Fantasy, current biography type of person), though I have to say it kept me reading to the end. It was fascinating to look in to the life of Bolivar in this way, obviously with the element of fiction behind it as nobody would truly know the detail of the mind and thoughts of someone who lived back then. The author has done a great job of keeping the reader interested and wondering what's going to happen next; though the ultimate conclusion is fairly obvious throughout.

I really did not feel I knew enough about Simon Bolivar for this novel to mean much to me. It was written with Marquez' usual flair, but it's not just about Bolivar, it's a reflection on the myth of Bolivar and an attempt to contrast that with a more sordid reality.Before I read the book I knew who Bolivar was and some sketchy details of his role in the history of Latin America, but I did not know much about the heroic and/or antiheroic mythologies surrounding him. I think for readers more steeped in Latin American history it would mean a lot more.

The magic of Marquez never disappoints me, at the end I remained spellbound. It is a fascinating historical perspective on the enigmatic life of Bolivar. Like his fictional characters, Simon Bolivar is depicted not as good or bad or black and white but as an intensely human person which Marquez fashions into a window onto our own humanity.

Evocative and thoughtful account of Colombia and Bolivar

Good read