A furiously written work while fighting dementia… Marquez’s last wish: ‘Never publish it.’
Released simultaneously worldwide to mark the tenth anniversary of his passing. "Our goal was to make readers happy," the family said.
Gabriel Garcia Marquez during his lifetime. The two sons of Marquez wrote the prologue – Until August –, stating that “the work is the culmination of our father’s final efforts to continue his creative work in the face of all kinds of adversity. Additionally, it was a process in which an artist;s perfectionism and the deterioration of mental faculties collided.” The manuscript for Until August is displayed in the small image. The manuscript was revised multiple times by Gabriel Garcia Marquez until his demise in 2014. Image Source: Wikimedia
Book cover for En Agosto Nos Vemos
Vintage Espanol
"Would you care to join me for a drink?"
A simple question, yet laden with the potential for profound consequences.
Ana Magdalena Bach, a middle-aged woman ensconced in the routines of marital life for twenty-seven years, finds herself confronted with this proposition in the dimly lit ambiance of a hotel bar. Her husband, a renowned musician, and their two prosperous children lie far from this Caribbean isle where she now stands alone, her presence dictated by the somber anniversary of her mother's passing on August 16th.
Brandy flows, kindling a camaraderie between Ana and her newfound companion. Their discourse traverses the literary landscape of Bram Stoker's "Dracula," each revelation confirming a shared understanding. Claude Debussy's ethereal "Clair de Lune," its melody draped in the sultry veil of a bolero arrangement, provides the soundtrack to their burgeoning connection. Yet, as the clock strikes eleven and the bar bids farewell to its patrons, Ana's gaze lingers upon the man's enigmatic yellow eyes, her invitation a silent echo in the air.
"Shall we go upstairs?" The words slip from Ana's lips, infused with a potent cocktail of desire and recklessness. And when hesitation flickers in the man's gaze, Ana, emboldened by the allure of the forbidden, seals their fate with a whispered directive, her voice a siren's call leading them to Room 203, nestled on the second floor, to the right of the stairs.
This encounter, a mere vignette in the tapestry of Colombian writer Gabriel Garcia Marquez's posthumous opus, "Until August," heralds a departure from his familiar realms of magical realism. Anchored by a female protagonist navigating the labyrinthine corridors of guilt and redemption, Marquez's narrative transcends the trappings of a conventional melodrama, delving into the intricate dance between desire and consequence.
Through Ana's pilgrimage to her mother's graveside, a journey fraught with confessions and revelations, Marquez weaves a poignant tale of reconciliation and absolution. Mother and daughter, once estranged in life, find solace in the shared secrets of the grave, forging a bond that transcends the boundaries of mortality.
As the echoes of Bach's timeless compositions reverberate through the pages of Marquez's tale, one cannot help but discern the author's homage to his own maternal muse. Like the titular protagonist, Marquez's literary odyssey is imbued with the echoes of a mother's influence, her spirit a guiding force in his creative endeavors.
Yet, the publication of "Until August" stands as a testament to the complexities of artistic legacy and familial obligation. Marquez's vehement decree to consign his final masterpiece to oblivion, a testament to his uncompromising perfectionism, is challenged by the inexorable march of time. His sons, custodians of his literary estate, defy their father's wishes in a bid to share his genius with a world hungry for his words.
Whether Marquez, ensconced in the celestial realms, would applaud or admonish this posthumous revelation remains a mystery. Yet, amidst the swirling currents of controversy, one truth remains immutable: the enduring legacy of "Gabo," whose literary legacy continues to captivate and inspire readers across the globe.
Reference
Kahn, C. (2024, March 6). Gabriel García Márquez’s last novel is published against his wishes. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2024/03/06/1236246186/gabriel-garcia-marquez-novel-until-august-published
Lee, H. (2024, March 16). [Scents of books] “The maestro of Latin American literature”... Marquez’s masterpiece venture beyond a decade. The DONG-A ILBO. https://www.donga.com/news/Culture/article/all/20240315/123995779/1
Radesca, J. (2023, May 23). “En agosto nos vemos”: The Unpublished Novel by Gabriel García Márquez. LatinAmerican Post. https://latinamericanpost.com/life/entertainment-en/en-agosto-nos-vemos-the-unpublished-novel-by-gabriel-garca-mrquez/
Santana-Acuña, Á. (2024, March 19). ¿Sería mejor si el último libro de Gabriel García Márquez nunca se hubiera publicado? The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/es/2024/03/19/espanol/opinion/gabriel-garcia-marquez-en-agosto-nos-vemos.html
Yong-rae Kim. (2024, March 7). Gabriel Garcia Marques’s posthumous “Until August” has been simultaneously released worldwide. Yonhap News. https://m.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20240307082800005
Zea, A. F. A. (2024, March 29). Review: “En agosto nos vemos” tarnishes Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s legacy. Columbia Daily Spectator. https://www.columbiaspectator.com/arts-and-culture/2024/03/28/review-en-agosto-nos-vemos-tarnishes-gabriel-garcia-marquezs-legacy/
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