2666: A Novel Summary

Everything you need to understand or teach 2666.

  • 2666: A Novel Summary & Study Guide

2666: A Novel Overview

Roberto Bolaño's 2666 is a sprawling, multi-layered novel that weaves together five interconnected stories spanning different times and places. The novel begins with a group of literary critics searching for an elusive German author, Benno von Archimboldi, which leads them to Santa Teresa, a fictional Mexican border town based on Ciudad Juárez. The heart of the novel focuses on a series of brutal femicides in Santa Teresa, exploring themes of violence, indifference, and the dark undercurrents of society. The final section reveals Archimboldi's true identity and history, connecting the disparate threads of the novel and tying together its exploration of 20th-century history, the nature of evil, and the power of literature.