One Hundred Years of Solitude

By: Gabriel García Márquez, Gregory Rabassa - translator

Narrated by: John Lee

Includes a bonus PDF with a character chart!

One of the twentieth century’s enduring works, One Hundred Years of Solitude is a widely beloved and acclaimed novel known throughout the world and the ultimate achievement in a Nobel Prize–winning career.

The novel tells the story of the rise and fall of the mythical town of Macondo through the history of the Buendía family. Rich and brilliant, it is a chronicle of life, death, and the tragicomedy of humankind. In the beautiful, ridiculous, and tawdry story of the Buendía family, one sees all of humanity, just as in the history, myths, growth, and decay of Macondo, one sees all of Latin America.

Love and lust, war and revolution, riches and poverty, youth and senility, the variety of life, the endlessness of death, the search for peace and truth—these universal themes dominate the novel. Alternately reverential and comical, One Hundred Years of Solitude weaves the political, personal, and spiritual to bring a new consciousness to storytelling. Translated into dozens of languages, this stunning work is no less than an account of the history of the human race.

Download the accompanying reference guide.

©1964 Gabriel García Márquez (P)2013 Blackstone Audio

Outstanding Audiobook!

Any additional comments?

One Hundred Years of Solitude has made a name for itself as one of the most stunning novels of the 20th Century. So, it’s no surprise that many readers, like myself, have anxiously awaited its release on audiobook… yet it should also come as no surprise to fans like myself, that this is an intricately woven piece of literature, often requiring a little legwork to fully grasp the complex web of characters. I went into my listening experience knowing this, and after reading some scathing reviews by other listeners – while I understand how translation from page to digital can create some inevitable need for clarifications – I have to disagree with such harsh reviews that seem to trash the audiobook as a whole. If needed, there are plenty of resources online to help the listener along, not to mention, a hard copy of the novel (which, in my opinion, everyone should have regardless)! I found John Lee’s performance full of clarity and rhythmic narration, quickly and effectively engaging me as a listener. After much anticipation, I was thoroughly pleased with this audiobook, and would definitely recommend it - with the understanding that, as a novel, it is complex – but SO worth it!

weird shit

this book will take you time to get into. it's odd, overtly sexual, and grotesque. it has a Stark beauty that is overwhelming.

Great story

The story itself is just as good as it is hyped up to be, but I couldn't get over the narrator's performance. It was okay for the expository portions of the story, but the voices of the female characters sounded so simpering and goofy it was like listening to a Mrs. Doubtfire impression. Otherwise enjoyable.

Not at all what I was expecting

Surprising surreal family saga. Bizarre mystical story reminiscent of Don Quixote in absurdity. I have heard of this book for many years, since childhood. For some reason, I was under the assumption that this was going to be a long and hard listen. Nothing of the sort. The book was wacky, weird and fun. Wish I was fluent enough in Spanish to enjoy it in it's original language.

Magical Realism???

What a crazy, crazy book! My first in the “magical realism” category. Was not impressed. In all fairness to Marquez he had many great one line zingers in the book. Thus my 3 stars. Was this really a story or maybe a satire or a fable? Really hard to follow! Saw some reviews that John Lee was not a good narrator. I thought he was amazing!! So many people consider this a classic and I can understand they may be twisted that way but I was really disappointed with the 14 hours I invested in this book.

Strange but fascinating and thought-provoking

I struggled with keeping up with all the people, so many with the same name or almost the same. The story is strange but very interesting and enjoyable.

The greatest novel in any language of the last fifty years

Wiped out by the wind and exiled from the memory of men at the precise moment of deciphering the final line of the parchment, one hundred years of solitude did not have a second opportunity to be reviewed with jubilation and hallucinations on earth. John Lee is a fantastic and charismatic narrator!!!

Narrators voice drove me mad

Just really felt forced and couldn’t ease into story with the narrators hard voice and approach to the story

Great Story

What did you love best about One Hundred Years of Solitude?

The flowing, stream-of-thought prose. Very enjoyable!

Who was your favorite character and why?

I couldn't pick one. They were all quirky, flawed, funny and likeable.

What about John Lee’s performance did you like?

Everything! His perfect pronunciation of place names and character names is flawless and unlike other readers, I felt that his unaccented English narration in no way detracted from the story. He is the narrator after all and not one of the characters.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I don't think it could be enjoyed in the depth it deserves in one sitting.

Any additional comments?

Well worth the purchase.

Wonderful magical realism classic

the narrator is great and it is a such a wonderful classic of magical realism...