Gabriel García Márquez’s One Hundred Years of Solitude consistently makes the lists of the “best novels of the 20th century.” Joseph Luzzi, professor of literature at Bard College, leads participants through an in-depth discussion of the novel’s depiction of the colonial experience, its legendary use of magical realism, the role of the supernatural in the narrative, and the qualities that give the book’s language its particular beauty and inventiveness. He also explores how the word “epic” may be applied to this novel because of its insights into the historical condition of the fictional Latin American city of Macondo, where it is set.
10–11 a.m. Gabriel García Márquez: From Journalism to the Nobel Prize
The major aspects of García Márquez’s life and work are discussed, especially as they relate to his early journalism and winning of the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1982.
11:15 a.m.–12:15 p.m. The Golden Age: Chapters 1–7
Luzzi considers the early chapters of One Hundred Years of Solitude, with a focus on how the novel qualifies for the genre of “epic” and how it deconstructs its description of the initial years of Macondo as a golden age. He also discusses the defining qualities of the author’s style as well as the main characters who drive the narrative of the book.
12:15–12:45 p.m. Break
12:45–1:45 p.m. The “Magic” and the “Real”: Chapters 8–14
Luzzi explores the middle chapters of One Hundred Years of Solitude, with a focus on how García Márquez establishes a delicate balance between the magical and realistic elements of his novel; the issue of war and its relation to social and cultural concerns is also examined.
2–3 p.m. From History to Apocalypse: Chapters 15–20
In analyzing the concluding chapters, Luzzi discusses how García Márquez depicts such key issues as international capitalism, historical narratives of decline and fall, and the ongoing tension between realistic representation and supernatural elements. He also considers the legacy of One Hundred Years of Solitude and its influence in Latin America and worldwide.
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