A retired colonel in a small Colombian town has waited fifteen years for the pension he was promised after serving in a civil war. Each Friday he goes to the post office, and each time there is no letter. He lives with his sick wife in near poverty and keeps a prized fighting rooster that belonged to his dead son, an activist killed by the regime. The couple debate whether to sell the rooster to eat, while the colonel clings to dignity and hope.
A short novella that works as an introduction to García Márquez for readers who find his longer books intimidating. It will suit anyone interested in the quiet effect of bureaucracy, poverty and pride, told in spare, wry prose.
Deep, contemplative and thought-provoking; a moderate read.
Best for readers like The Wisdom Collector. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 1961
- Language
- EN
