 The novel is written in the third @-@ person with flashbacks to specific events in the life of Simón Bolívar , " the General " . It begins on May 8 , 1830 in Santa Fe de Bogotá . The General is preparing for his journey towards the port of Cartagena de Indias , intending to leave Colombia for Europe . Following his resignation as President of Gran Colombia , the people of the lands he liberated have now turned against him , scrawling anti @-@ Bolívar graffiti and throwing waste at him . The General is anxious to move on , but has to remind the Vice @-@ President @-@ elect , General Domingo Caycedo , that he has yet to receive a valid passport to leave the country . The General leaves Bogotá with the few officials still faithful to him , including his confidante and aide @-@ de @-@ camp , José Palacios . At the end of the first chapter , the General is referred to by his full title , General Simón José Antonio de la Santísima Trinidad Bolívar y Palacios , for the only time in the novel . 
 The novel is written in the third @-@ person with flashbacks to specific events in the life of Simón Bolívar , " the General " . It <a href='uninflect' title='1'><mark>begins</mark></a> on May 8 , 1830 in Santa Fe de Bogotá . The General is preparing for his journey towards the port of Cartagena de Indias , intending to leave Colombia for Europe . Following his resignation as President of Gran Colombia , the people of the lands he liberated <a href='been_done' title='2'><mark>have</mark></a> now turned against him , scrawling anti @-@ Bolívar graffiti and throwing waste at him . The General <a href='drop_aux' title='3'><mark>is</mark></a>anxious to move on , but <a href='uninflect' title='4'><mark>has</mark></a> to remind the Vice @-@ President @-@ elect , General Domingo Caycedo , <a href='null_relcl' title='5'><mark>that</mark></a>he <a href='uninflect' title='6'><mark>has</mark></a> yet to receive a valid passport to leave the country . The General <a href='uninflect' title='7'><mark>leaves</mark></a> Bogotá with the few officials still faithful to him , including his confidante and aide @-@ de @-@ camp , José Palacios . At the end of the first chapter , the General is referred to by his full title , General Simón José Antonio de la Santísima Trinidad Bolívar y Palacios , for the only time in the novel . 
The novel is written in da third @-@ person with flashbacks to specific events in tdalife of Simón Bolívar , " the General " . It begin on May 8 , 1830 in Santa Fe de Bogotá . The General is preparing fir his journey towards thdaort of Cartagena de Indias , intending to leave Colombia for Europe . Following his resignation as President of Gran Colombia , the ppl of thedands he liberated done now turned against him , scrawling anti @-@ Bolívar graffiti and throwin waste at him . The daeral anxious to move on , but gotta remind the Vice @-@ President @-@ elect , General Domingo Caycedo , he have yet to receive a valid passport to leave the cdatry . The Gedaal leave Bogotá wit the few officials still faithful to him , including his confidante and aide @-@ de @-@ camp , José Palacios . At the endda the first chapter , the General is referred to by his full title , General Simón José Antonio de la Santísima Trinidad Bolívar y Palacios , for the only time in the novel .