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Unfortunately, some works are not always faithfully translated. So, if you’re fluent in Spanish, we can only recommend that you buy the original version to fully appreciate the author’s work.
Presentation of the work
Original title (ES) : María
María, published in 1867 by Jorge Isaacs, tells the story of the impossible love between Efraín and María, in the idyllic setting of the Cauca valley. The romantic novel blends passion, melancholy and lush descriptions of nature, creating a poetic, emotional atmosphere. Through the obstacles that separate the two lovers, the text explores universal themes of love, loss and destiny. The lyrical, sensitive narration transports the reader into a world of heightened emotions, typical of 19thᵉ century Romanticism. The work also illustrates the social contrasts and customs of the period, while depicting a richly described, rural Colombia. Isaacs’s writing combines realism and idealization, offering a tale both intimate and deeply aesthetic, which continues to touch readers with its emotional power and the beauty of its landscapes and characters.
Welcoming the press and public
On publication, María was immediately hailed for its sensitivity and the poetic quality of its writing. Critics have appreciated the emotional depth of the characters and the way Isaacs describes the landscapes of the Cauca Valley, giving the novel an almost cinematic feel. The public, touched by the intensity of the love story and the fragility of the characters, quickly adopted the novel, which became popular beyond Colombia. The story has been studied in schools and universities as an example of Latin American Romanticism, arousing admiration and debate on the themes of passion and fatality. The combination of romantic tragedy and descriptive richness has kept the work alive in the cultural imagination, seducing many readers to this day.
The author
Jorge Isaacs, born in 1837 in Colombia, was an influential writer, poet and politician of the XIXᵉ century. Born into a well-to-do family in the Cauca Valley, he draws on his childhood memories and environment to create stories imbued with realism and lyricism. In addition to María, Isaacs has written poetry and essays, often dealing with nature, society and human emotions. His intellectual and political commitment has also led him to participate in Colombian public life. Through his work, he captured the social contrasts and natural beauties of his country, combining romantic passion with close observation of the world around him, making him a major figure of Latin American Romanticism.
