Deceased – Alvaro Mutis Jaramillo

Alvaro Mutis Jaramillo, Colombian writer and poet, dies aged 90. Tributes paid to man considered one of the most outstanding poets and storytellers of his generation

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/23/alvaro-mutis-jaramillo-colombian-wr...

edit: typo

Excellent writer. The Maqroll works centered around the adventures of a somewhat itinerant sailor are just wonderful.

I agree with Larry; I also enjoyed The Adventures and Misadventures of Maqroll. Has anyone read anything else by him that they would recommend?

Unfortunately, I can’t make any recommendations, but thanks to the endorsement of lriley and kizdoc, I’ve finally ordered a copy of The Adventures and Misadventures of Magroll.

#3--the only other work of his I've found translated into English is a story collection titled The Mansion. He had quite a reputation as a poet but I'm not aware of any of that being translated either.

I never knew about the Jaramillo. Anyway, the above mentioned Maqroll NYRB is currently my most important book possession.

So I disagree with Iriley's assessment, because 'wonderful' falls far short of my assessment. Unparalleled in history?

Yes, The Adventures and Misadventures of Maqroll are amazing. I've never read anything quite like them, although I have read nothing else by Mutis. I would be interested to hear what his other work is like. I don't think he used Jaramillo, by the way.

No, I am sure he didn't use it, but even several articles about him that i've read did not mention it.

I guess I really knew Maqroll was finished, but unless there is something laying around that he asked someone to publish upon his death this finality still hurts.

A somewhat older interview that I came across, dated 2001, but to anyone interested in Mutis, it is well worth reading. Francisco Goldman interviews Alvaro Mutis:

http://bombsite.com/issues/74/articles/2374