Mercedes Pardo, widow and muse of Gabriel Garcia Marquez, has died

The widow — and muse — of celebrated author Gabriel Garcia Marquez has died.

Mercedes Barcha Pardo died August 15 at age eighty-seven, six years after her husband’s death.

The pair were together for fifty-six years, according to the Wire, and after he died, Pardo spent the remainder of her life managing the Gabriel Garcia Marquez Foundation (which promotes and teaches independent journalism) and launching the Gabo Center (which celebrates her husband’s legacy).

Marquez often credited Pardo with making his long writing career possible; you can read more about her contributions in literature teacher and former journalist Indradeep Bhattacharyya’s memorial piece.

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