Barry Pierce's Reviews > No One Writes to the Colonel

In this incredibly short novel, Garcí­a Márquez tells the story of an elderly and senile Colonel who, every Friday, waits to receive his pension in the post. However, he's never received his pension. Not once in fifteen years. Both the Colonel and his wife live in destitution in a small village in war-torn Colombia. They grieve the death of their son and try to sell off their belongings in order to continue living.

This is an utterly pessimistic novel. The Colonel and his wife are living hopeless lives and in this hopelessness, Garcí­a Márquez thrives. Nothing happens in the novel. There isn't a beginning or an ending. Like in Leaf Storm we are dropped into the middle of a story. We are observers of the Colonel and we can't help him.

This is a really fantastic little story and shows are clear improvement in the structure and story problems I found in Leaf Storm. Take me away Gabo!