In Evil Hour

In Evil Hour (Spanish: La mala hora) is a novel by Colombian writer Gabriel García Márquez, first published (in an edition disowned by the author^[1]) in 1962.

In Evil Hour

First edition (Spanish)
Author	Gabriel García Márquez
Original title	La mala hora
Translator	Gregory Rabassa
Language	Spanish
Publisher	Premio Literario Esso (Spain) Harper & Row (US)
Publication date	1962
Publication place	Colombia
Published in English	1979
Media type	Print (Hardback & Paperback)
Pages	183
ISBN	978-0-06-011414-5
OCLC	5633093
Dewey Decimal	863 19
LC Class	PQ8180.17.A73 M313 1979

Written while García Márquez lived in Paris, the story was originally entitled Este pueblo de mierda (This Town of Shit or This Shitty Town). Rewritten, it won a literary prize in Colombia.

Some of the same characters and situations found in La mala hora later re-appear in Cien años de soledad.

Plot

In Evil Hour takes place in a nameless Colombian village. Someone has been placing satirical pasquinades about the town, outlining the locals' shameful secrets. Some dismiss these as common gossip. However, when a man kills his wife's supposed lover after reading of her infidelity, the mayor decides that action is called for. He declares martial law and sends soldiers (who are actually armed thugs) to patrol the streets. He also uses the 'state of unrest' as an excuse to crack down on his political enemies.