Cien años de soledad. (One Hundred Years of Solitude)

Reviewed by María Elena Cruz -- Críticas, 6/1/2007

In conjunction with Santillana, the Real Academia Española (RAE) and the Asociación de Academias de la Lengua Española have published this commemorative edition of the contemporary classic to mark its 40th anniversary, García Márquez’s 80th birthday, and the 25th anniversary of the author’s receiving the Nobel prize. Much like the 2004 celebratory edition of Don Quijote de la Mancha (RAE & Santillana, 11/04), this publication includes an author profile by Álvaro Mutis, an introduction by Carlos Fuentes, and critical essays by Mario Vargas Llosa, Víctor García de la Concha, and Claudio Guillén. Four renowned academics look further into the influence of this masterpiece on Spanish-language literature, thus emphasizing its importance. The novel itself was slightly modified: several grammar mistakes have been corrected, some cacophonies were eliminated, and pronouns were added to emphasize certain phrases. This affordable hardcover edition, which includes a comprehensive glossary and a genealogical map of the legendary Buendía family, simply reconfirms this as the most important Latin American novel of the 20th century. Already a best seller, this is an essential edition for all libraries and bookstores.