María (novel)
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María is a novel written by Colombian writer Jorge Isaacs between 1864 and 1867. It is a costumbrist novel representative of the Spanish romantic movement. It may be considered a precursor of the criollist novel of the 1920s and 1930s in Latin America.
Despite being Isaacs' only novel, María is considered one of the most important works of 19th century Spanish literature. The novel has been compared to Chateaubriand's, but the mournful and ominous tone of the narrative echoes the style of Edgar Allan Poe. Notable are the description of the landscape and the artistic style of the prose.
The novel has several autobiographical elements, such as both main characters being natives of Valle del Cauca, or Efraín's departure to Bogotá to pursue his studies. It has been claimed that Maria herself is based, at least in part, upon a cousin of the author. The hacienda "El Paraíso", owned by Isaacs' family, also figures as an important location throughout the novel; it is currently preserved as a museum.
The story relates the tragic love story between María and her cousin Efraín, both natives of Valle del Cauca. The characters fell in love with each other but circumstances prevent the full realization of their love. The first hurdle is Efraín's departure for six years to Bogotá in order to pursue his studies. After Efraín returns to Cauca the couple is able to live together, albeit for only three months, before he leaves for London to continue his education. Two years later Efraín returns to Colombia to find that María has died of illness. Heart-broken, Efraín decides to leave Cauca definitely, this time without a fixed destination.
