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This book is not available in English, so we refer you to the Spanish version.
Presentation of the work
Original title (ES) : Rosario Tijeras
Rosario Tijeras, published in 1999 by Jorge Franco, is a landmark novel in contemporary Colombian literature. Set in Medellín in the years of drug-trafficking violence, the story follows Rosario, a young woman from a working-class neighborhood who is as fascinating as she is dangerous. Told from the point of view of Antonio, a lover and helpless witness to his descent into a brutal world, the novel blends passion, fatality and urban violence. Rosario is both victim and actor in this chaos, embodying a youth sacrificed by poverty and the absence of a future. Jorge Franco’s direct, cinematic style immediately immerses the reader in the city’s tense atmosphere. More than a tragic love story, the novel offers a lucid look at a fractured society, where individual choices are often dictated by survival.
Welcoming the press and public
When it was released, Rosario Tijeras met with a strong response in Colombia and abroad. The specialist press has praised Jorge Franco’s ability to capture the spirit of the times and give a literary voice to characters from the margins of society. Rosario’s complex and disturbing portrait made a particularly strong impression on critics, even if some criticized the novel for taking an overly crude or pessimistic view of Medellín. It was an instant hit with the public, especially young readers, who were seduced by the intense pace and tragic story. Film and TV adaptations have greatly contributed to the popularization of the work, transforming it into a cultural reference. Even today, the novel is often cited as a key text for understanding urban violence and its human consequences in Colombia.
The author
Jorge Franco, born in 1962 in Medellín, is one of the most acclaimed Colombian writers of his generation. Trained as an architect, he turned to writing and took an early interest in Colombia’s social and urban transformations. His novels frequently tackle the themes of violence, love and identity, with a realistic yet profoundly human outlook. Rosario Tijeras is his most famous work, the one that catapulted him onto the international literary scene, but he has also published other acclaimed novels such as Paraíso Travel. Franco is appreciated for his fluid, accessible and visual style, which makes his stories highly immersive. Through his books, he seeks above all to tell personal stories that reflect the collective wounds of his country, without ever falling into moralizing.
