Germán Castro Caycedo

Germán Castro Caycedo (born March 3, 1940) is a Colombian journalist and writer. Castro Caycedo's topics revolve around the Colombian reality, under the parameters of the cultural identity and its social and economic phenomena.

Born in Zipaquirá, Colombia, he graduated from Gimnasio Germán Peña. After studying anthropology for 3 years on the Universidad Nacional, he worked with [El Tiempo newspaper from 1967 to 1977 as a general columnist. After leaving, he directed the "Enviado Especial" (special correspondent) TV show, which introduced the modern journalism in Colombia, for about 20 years. Today he is still writing.

His work has been published in Spain, France, Hungary, Japan, China and Greece.

Contents

Books

The descriptions showed here are very superficial, and may underestimate each book's topic. Is strongly recommended the reading of each work to correctly understand it.

La Bruja (The Witch)

La Bruja talks about, on one hand, a gypsy witch, and on the other, the life of a poor-well-known Colombian drug lord. Castro Caycedo uses their stories as a base to conduce the reader in a trip that shows how the cocaine traffic affected the society and economy of a small town (Fredonia), the Mexican Secret Police's brutality and corruption, and also the United States active role in the birth and expansion of the drug production in Colombia.

El Alcaraván

The stories of some pilots on the Colombian Orinoco region, country, where the extreme jungle conditions are challenged by these brave men, flying old DC-3 aeroplanes to carry people, food, medical supplies, and sometimes funny payloads, like beer or animals. "One of the most beautiful tales about Colombia", according to local critics.

Candelaria

A love story, partly written in Russia and partly in Colombia, set by the illegal drug trade.

Colombia amarga (Bitter Colombia)

Castro Caycedo's stories, collected on his travels across the country, about Colombian teenagers between 18 and 25 years old.

Con las manos en alto (With the hands up)

War episodes on Colombia.

El cachalandrán amarillo (The Yellow Cachalandrán)

A recompilation of Colombian popular stories.

El hueco (The hole)

This book relates the Colombian citizens' mass emigration to the United States, passing through Mexico.

El hurakán (The Hurrikane)

Simultaneous chronicles of conquistadores crossing the Atlantic, with slaves below decks and the jungle traps they faced, and modern-day Colombian Navy sailing the seas, contemplating the differences in our historical evolution.

El Karina

The Karina was a craft sunken by a Colombian Navy ship on the Pacific Ocean. It was loaded with weapons for the M-19 guerrilla group.

Hágase tu voluntad (Thy Will Be Done)

Story about a Spanish archbishop and a Colombian nun, murdered by Ecuadorian Indians. The intent of the book is show the Indians' opinion about white people, who through the time have been the wild invaders.

La muerte de Giacomo Turra (Giacomo Turra's Death)

An Italian citizen visits Cartagena, where he dies for causes never truly clarified.

Mi alma se la dejo al diablo (I Leave my Soul to the Devil)

A man's diary, found on the jungle, where its author wrote how he was dying. The title of the book are, precisely, the last words said man wrote in his diary.

Perdido en el Amazonas (Lost in Amazonas)

Another jungle story.

Other Books

Sources