''Memories of My Melancholy Whores'' ( es, link=no, Memoria de mis putas tristes) is a novella by

Gabriel García Márquez Gabriel José de la Concordia García Márquez (; 6 March 1927 – 17 April 2014) was a Colombian novelist, short-story writer, screenwriter, and journalist, known affectionately as Gabo () or Gabito () throughout Latin America. Considered one ...

. The book was originally published in Spanish in 2004, with an English translation by

Edith Grossman Edith Grossman (born March 22, 1936) is an American Spanish-to-English literary translator. One of the most important contemporary translators of Latin American and Spanish literature, she has translated the works of Nobel laureate Mario Vargas ...

published in October 2005.

Plot

An old journalist, who has just celebrated his 90th birthday, seeks sex with a 14-year-old prostitute, who is selling her virginity to help her family. Instead of sex, he discovers love for the first time in his life.

List of characters

*First-person narrator - Unidentified old journalist. *Rosa Cabarcas - Brothel owner and pimp. *Delgadita - 14-year-old virgin girl. *Florina de Dios Cargamantes - Narrator's mother. *Damiana - Narrator's maid. *Ximena Ortiz - Narrator's fiancée . *Jerónimo Ortega - Journal chief censor. *Editor-in-chief. *J.M.B.- Famous banker. *Sacramento Montiel - Brothel owner. *Casilda Armenta - Former prostitute. *Castorina - Prostitute with whom the narrator had his sexual debut. *Narrator's angora cat.

Adaptation

In 2012, a joint film production of the novel by Spain, Denmark and Mexico was released by Danish film director,

Henning Carlsen Henning Carlsen (4 June 1927 – 30 May 2014) was a Danish film director, screenwriter, and producer most noted for his documentaries and his contributions to the style of cinéma vérité. Carlsen's 1966 social-realistic drama ''Hunger'' (''Su ...

, and starring Emilio Echevarría, Olivia Molina,

Ángela Molina Ángela Molina Tejedor (born 5 October 1955) is a Spanish actress. Aside from her performances in Spanish films, she has starred in multiple international productions, particularly in a number of Italian films and television series. Family Mol ...

and

Geraldine Chaplin Geraldine Leigh Chaplin (born July 31, 1944) is an American actress. She is the daughter of Charlie Chaplin, the first of eight children with his fourth wife, Oona O'Neill. After beginnings in dance and modeling, she turned her attention to act ...

. The film received the Special Young Jury Prize at the Malaga Spanish Film Festival.

References

External links

Complete Review review

by ''

The Los Angeles Times ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the ...

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'The Nonagenarian and the Nymphette'
review in the '' Oxonian Review'' {{DEFAULTSORT:Memories Of My Melancholy Whores 2004 novels Colombian novellas Colombian novels adapted into films Novels by Gabriel García Márquez Novels about Colombian prostitution Colombian magic realism novels Alfred A. Knopf books