From novels to poetry, through chronicles and autobiographies, Colombian literature, guest of the 80th edition of the Madrid Book Fair (to be held from September 10th to 26th), is experiencing a moment of intergenerational splendor.

Among all Colombian creators, none have represented the political reality of Colombia as accurately as Laura Restrepo (Bogotá, 1950). In 1983, she was part of the Peace, Dialogue and Verification Commission that was supposed to negotiate peace with the guerrilla group M-19. She was forced to emigrate from Colombia due to threats against her life, and it was not until six years later that she managed to return.

A leftist militant and always interested in opening channels for dialogue between the guerrillas and the government, as well as being a journalist (at one point in her life, García Márquez was her tutor), Restrepo has achieved a unique style in Colombian writing. Winner of the VII Alfaguara Prize 2004 with Delirio, she has left a series of novels that lend a moral x-ray of the country, as can be seen in Leopardo al sol (1993), Sweet company (1995), The dark bride (1999), Hot Sur (2012) and Los divinos (2018).

Read more here: El País - Babelia