News of a Kidnapping

Gabriel García Márquez's News of a Kidnapping is a gripping retelling of real events during a turbulent period in Colombian history. The narrative centers around Pablo Escobar, a billionaire drug lord known for his ruthless tactics and influence in the international drug trade, as well as his charitable work that garnered him significant power in Colombia. Facing the threat of extradition to the U.S. under the new Colombian President, Escobar resorted to kidnapping as a means of negotiation. In the winter of 1990, ten relatives of Colombian politicians, primarily women, were taken hostage in Escobar's desperate attempt to prevent his extradition. The harrowing experiences of the hostages, two of whom died while the others survived, are vividly recounted by Márquez, capturing the terror and uncertainty of those dark months. The work has been praised for its urgency and compelling readability, blending elements of investigative journalism with Márquez's signature magical storytelling. As a pioneer of magic realism and a leading voice in Latin American literature, Márquez has received international acclaim for his diverse body of work, including novels, non-fiction, and short stories, many of which have been translated and published by Penguin.