Titles and epigraphs in the diptych of the war for drugs by Don Winslow

Abstract

This work aims to highlight the relevance of what G. Genette called paratextuality in 1989. That is to say, the relation the text maintains with its paratext in which we are going to designate as the diptych of the war for drugs, that is the great novel composed of The Power of the Dog and The Cartel. The paratextual elements, particularly the titles of parts and chapters, and the epigraphs, represent a parallel discourse that summarises and anticipates the content, and helps the reader to create a context of reception while lends a value of literariness to the story, together with other methods such as agility in dialogues, prolepses of both beginnings, and the distance that looks for impartiality and intrigue with regard to certain scenes.