What is magical realism?

The term “magical realism“has become a literary phenomenon thanks to the creative genius of Gabriel Garcia Marquez, the Colombian writer born on March 6, 1927 in Aracataca. This unique narrative style combines realistic elements with fantastical elements in such a natural way that it challenges the traditional perception of reality.

García Márquez was influenced by his childhood in the Caribbean region of Colombia, where he grew up surrounded by popular stories and myths. This rich cultural heritage is reflected in his most famous work, “One hundred years of loneliness“, published in 1967, where it introduces the reader to a world where the extraordinary is part of the everyday.

According to García Márquez’s biography on the website of the Miguel de Cervantes Virtual Libraryhis revolutionary narrative style challenged the literary conventions of his time and opened new horizons in the Latin American and world literature. Magical realism allowed García Márquez to explore complex themes such as time, memory, loneliness and identity in a unique and deeply evocative way.

This had a notable influence on contemporary literature, inspiring a generation of writers around the world to explore new ways of narrating reality. Authors like Isabel Allende, Salman Rushdie y Haruki Murakami They have been influenced by his innovative narrative style and his ability to mix the mundane with the mystical.

Through magical realism, García Márquez managed to transcend the cultural and linguistic barriers, connecting with readers from different parts of the world. His ability to create complex and vivid narrative universes captured the imagination of millions of people and cemented his place as one of the great masters of world literature.

García Márquez’s work also left an indelible mark on other forms of artistic expression, such as film and television. Film adaptations of his works, such as “Love in the time of cholera” and “The colonel has no one to write to him“, have brought their magical realism to new audiences around the world.

The magical realism of Gabriel García Márquez not only transformed literature, but also left a legacy enduring that continues to inspire writers and readers of all generations.

His ability to merge the real with the imaginary remains a testament to the inexhaustible human creativity and the ability of literature to transcend borders and times.