On Living to Tell the Tale: "This first volume (two more are in progress) takes us into his mid-twenties, beginning with his eight years of uncertain if idyllic childhood with his maternal grandparents in the dusty village of Aracataca, on through his stint as rising staff writer for the Bogotá daily, El Espectador. The book ends in suspense: Gabito (his nickname) departs for Geneva on assignment to cover a "Big Four" summit, and in the last line he finds at his Swiss hotel a letter from his sweetheart Mercedes, who is replying to his marriage proposal."