While
delivering a message to her father, Florentino Ariza spots the barely
pubescent Fermina Daza and immediately falls in love. What follows is
the story of a passion that extends over 50 years, as Fermina is courted
solely by letter, decisively rejects her suitor when he first speaks,
and then joins the urbane Dr. Juvenal Urbino, much above her station, in
a marriage initially loveless but ultimately remarkable in its
strength. Florentino remains faithful in his fashion; paralleling the
tale of the marriage is that of his numerous liaisons, all ultimately
without the depth of love he again declares at Urbino's death. In
substance and style not as fantastical, as mythologizing, as the
previous works, this is a compelling exploration of the myths we make of
love. Highly recommended. Barbara Hoffert, "Library Journal"
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.