Stolen 'One Hundred Years Of Solitude' Recovered!

Phew, magical realism-loving book fiends, breathe a sigh of relief. It’s gonna be OK. The signed first edition of One Hundred Years of Solitude that was stolen last week has been recovered, according to Colombian police. The discovery was announced Friday on the official Twitter account of the Colombian national police, who promised to follow up with details. But when the book was first taken, Bustle reported the criminal could face up to 20 years in prison.

The stolen book belongs to rare book collector Alvaro Castillo, whose treasured copy of One Hundred Years of Solitude was on display at a book fair in Colombia last weekend. The event was to celebrate García Márquez on the one year anniversary of his death.

One nation’s celebration was one thief’s opportunity. It disappeared from the display case that was meant to protect it.

Castillo had spent years looking for a first edition of the Nobel Prize-winning author’s magnum opus. It’s one of just 8,000 copies and worth about $23,000. This copy was particularly special because Castillo had found the author just in time for him to sign the book before he died.

I think we all hope that the person who took the book will always remember, many years later, as he faces the (metaphorical!) firing-squad, that distant afternoon when the Colombian police discovered him.

Image: Unsplash