Empresas y Tribulaciones de Maqroll el Gaviero = The Adventures and Misadventures of Maqroll

A Colombian author of dozens of poetry books and novels and the 2001 winner of the celebrated Premio Cervantes for this latest work, Mutis is most recognized for his loosely autobiographical protagonist, Maqroll. This saga compiles seven previously published novels, including the celebrated La nieve del almirante (The Admiral's Snow, Alianza, 1993), Ilona llega con la lluvia (Ilona Arrives with the Rain, Alfaguara, 1997), and Triptico de mar y tierra (Triptych of Ocean and Earth, Norma, 1993). Although the stories take place all over the world, from the Scandinavian Sea to the port of Jamaica to Colombia's Magdalena River, they all feature the mythical Maqroll and a cast of characters. Navigating the waters of the world without aim, Maqroll engages in sexual affairs, clashes with the law, and scrapes with death, leaving his trace along the way in writings on walls, navigation charts, and diaries. The narrator discovers Maqroll in these various documents; this literary setup results in intriguing plots and indelible characters. Mutis's profound skill and characterization portray Maqroll as a 20th-century pirate, a Don Quixote of our day, ultimately making this a classic. Highly recommended for bookstores and all libraries with Spanish-language adult literature.Tatiana de la Tierra, Univ. at Buffalo Lib., NY