Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez is one of the most beloved and critically acclaimed works of Spanish-language literature of the 20th century. The novel centers around the story of Florentino Ariza – a passionate and unconventional romantic – and his passionate and unconventional love for Fermina Daza, the daughter of a wealthy merchant whom everyone expects to marry the upper class doctor Juvenal Urbino.
The novel begins with the day of Juvenal and Fermina’s wedding, and Florentino’s intense sorrow at losing the love of his life. In an attempt to forget, he devotes himself to discreetly erasing Fermina from his heart, accompanied by the accumulation of 622 female conquests. Years later, after the death of her husband, Fermina meets with Florentino and the two discover that their eternal love is still alive.
Garcia Marquez portrays a deeply romantic and melodramatic version of life in Colombia against the backdrop of a vibrant backdrop inspired by the city of Cartagena, and its surroundings. There are descriptions of its population, customs, exotic fauna, endless rivers, and even descriptions of cholera as a symbol of death in the midst of a landscape of love and life.
Garcia Marquez takes us on a breathtaking journey throughout the novel, with a captivating, sensual style of writing full of lyricism and allusions underlined with subtle irony. He draws together disparate elements throughout history, creating a narrative full of surprises, mystery and emotion. This is the realm that Love in the Time of Cholera focuses on, where the human heart and its flaws and desires are seen as both beautiful and tragic.
Florentino’s love is seen as a powerful and remarkable force, throughout history and even in the present day. His undying love is a reminder that love is a timeless emotion, and in an ever-evolving world is still the same, even through the pain and suffering that often accompany it. Love in the Time of Cholera is a must-read for fans of Latin American literature, but anyone looking for a beautiful and emotionally charged read. The novel is a testament to the persistent strength of love, even through the most difficult of times.
