10 years after the passing of Nobel Prize-winning author Gabriel García Márquez, his sons defied his final wish to destroy the last novel he wrote while grappling with dementia. The book, titled "Until August," is set to be published by his sons.
García Márquez is an author of timeless classics known for his magical realist writing style. "Until August'' is the first Márquez work centered on a female protagonist. The novel recounts the story of Ana Magdalena Bach, a woman in her late 40s. Every August, she embarks on a journey to a Caribbean island to visit her mother's grave. These annual visits, a path to self-fulfillment, offer her a brief escape from her husband and family, initiating a sequence of clandestine affairs.
Rodrigo García, the son of García Márquez, revealed that his father had initially deemed the novel "Until August" incomplete and nonsensical. However, upon reevaluating it recently, Rodrigo and his brother Gonzalo found the unfinished book meaningful and emotionally impactful. The brothers had not initially considered publishing it but changed their minds after revisiting the work and developing a positive opinion.
In a recent interview with BBC Radio 4's "Front Row," García Márquez's son Gonzalo explained their decision to publish the novel despite his father's explicit instruction to destroy it. Gonzalo noted that his father, in his final days, could not appreciate the merits of his work, only seeing its flaws. After revisiting the text in 2022, the family deemed it a valuable addition to Garcia Márquez's legacy, showcasing a new facet of his storytelling.
Contemplating whether it was considered a 'betrayal' of their late father, they affirmed it was. The sons understood it as part of the role children play. Gonzalo expressed that the book was inevitably going to be published. Therefore, the family opted to release a version that met their approval and protected its copyright.
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The Publication of "Until August" sparked discussions on artistic integrity, filial responsibility, and safeguarding an author's legacy. Supporters argued that the novel contributes a fresh perspective to Márquez's work, while critics contended that the family should have respected the author's wishes.
Critics provided varied assessments of "Until August." While The Guardian's Lucy Hughes-Hallett described it as a faded but treasurable souvenir, others, like Max Liu from The i newspaper, argued that the family should have respected Márquez's wishes. Sarah Perry of The Telegraph found the novel oddly moving but noted its departure from Márquez's signature storytelling style.
Salman Rushdie, a Nobel laureate and friend of García Márquez, expressed concern about adding anything new to the author's works. At a book event in Spain last year, Rushdie emphasized that he did not want his unpublished manuscripts to be released. He was worried that the publication of "Until August" could potentially harm García Márquez's reputation and may not do justice to his legacy.
The controversy surrounding posthumous releases is not unique in literature, prompting ethical concerns about releasing an author's unfinished or unreleased material. Franz Kafka and Vladimir Nabokov's works were published against their wishes after their deaths.
Rodrigo is open to letting readers form their own opinions. In the preface of "Until August," he and his brother express the hope that if readers enjoy the book, their father will forgive them. The book will be released on March 12.
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