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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): La Virgen de los Sicarios
Our Lady of the Assassins, published in 1994, is a bold and provocative novel that plunges the reader into the violent daily life of Medellín in the 1990s. The story follows Fernando, a writer who returns to his hometown and finds himself confronted by lost youth, gangs and sicarios – young hired killers from working-class neighborhoods. Through his encounters with these teenagers, the novel explores urban violence, omnipresent death and the fragility of life, while mixing philosophical reflections with acerbic irony. Vallejo doesn’t try to sugarcoat reality: he describes contemporary Colombia with brutality and lucidity, offering a raw but essential portrait of society. His direct, often polemical style makes the novel striking, mixing cynicism, black humor and deep sadness for a city in the throes of social decay.
Welcoming the press and public
When Our Lady of the Assassins was released, it sparked a wide-ranging debate. Critics have praised Vallejo’s narrative strength and his ability to combine literary style with social testimony, but have also been struck by the shocking, crude nature of some of his descriptions. The novel was seen as an uncompromising denunciation of urban violence and corruption in Medellín, but some readers were put off by its cynical tone and crude imagery. As far as the public is concerned, the book has met with notable success in Colombia and internationally, becoming a reference for those wishing to understand the social consequences of drug trafficking and gangs. The 2000 film adaptation further enhanced its reputation, bringing this violent but realistic portrait of Medellín to a wider audience.
The author
Fernando Vallejo, born in Medellín in 1942, is a Colombian writer, essayist and film-maker known for his incisive, polemical style. His works, often autobiographical or inspired by his personal life, tackle themes such as violence, corruption, religion and Colombian society with unabashed frankness. Our Lady of the Assassins remains his most famous novel, but he has also written provocative essays and novels such as El desbarrancadero, which continue to explore controversial themes. Vallejo is renowned for his dark humor, his critical eye and his social commitment, often expressed in radical terms, which earn him as much admiration as criticism. Today, he lives in Mexico, but remains a major figure in contemporary Latin American literature, famous for his unique style and his ability to shock while making people think.
