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The best books on Brazil: start your reading here The best books on Brazil: start your reading here
(2 months later)
The Violent Land by Jorge AmadoThe Violent Land by Jorge Amado
Amado's novel about the 1920s cacao wars in north-east Brazil is an epic tale of greed, lust, love and murder. Two powerful families, led by Zinho Badaros and Horacio Silveira, battle over the virgin forest of Sequeiro Grande, which they want to develop as cacao plantations – to increase their wealth and power.Amado's novel about the 1920s cacao wars in north-east Brazil is an epic tale of greed, lust, love and murder. Two powerful families, led by Zinho Badaros and Horacio Silveira, battle over the virgin forest of Sequeiro Grande, which they want to develop as cacao plantations – to increase their wealth and power.
These tough, wealthy men of the Bahia region use lawyers and gunmen to assist in their land-grabbing through deceit and violence. Workers flock to the lawless land with dreams of making quick fortunes, but find only brutal regimes on the plantations that keep them in near-slave conditions as they face disease and death.These tough, wealthy men of the Bahia region use lawyers and gunmen to assist in their land-grabbing through deceit and violence. Workers flock to the lawless land with dreams of making quick fortunes, but find only brutal regimes on the plantations that keep them in near-slave conditions as they face disease and death.
For the conquistadors of this new land "fertilised by blood", it is the best in the world for planting cacao, which is "worth more than gold".For the conquistadors of this new land "fertilised by blood", it is the best in the world for planting cacao, which is "worth more than gold".
Amado vividly describes life in the local towns – with their landowners, adventurers, assassins, prostitutes and corrupt officials – inspired by his time growing up in the region, the son of a cocoa planter.Amado vividly describes life in the local towns – with their landowners, adventurers, assassins, prostitutes and corrupt officials – inspired by his time growing up in the region, the son of a cocoa planter.
The Violent Land is reputed to be the greatest novel by Brazil's best-selling author and was his favourite. A sometime Communist party member, Amado endured prison and exile in the 1930s and 40s. He died in 2001.The Violent Land is reputed to be the greatest novel by Brazil's best-selling author and was his favourite. A sometime Communist party member, Amado endured prison and exile in the 1930s and 40s. He died in 2001.
Bahia Blues by Yasmina TraboulsiBahia Blues by Yasmina Traboulsi
A short, sharp novel about a group of people who congregate daily in a square in the north-eastern city of Salvador de Bahia. In monologues, the protagonists introduce themselves to readers as they go about their businesses – struggling to make a living. The characters, although mostly archetypal, are written with warmth and empathy. Among them are a popcorn vendor, two gay, HIV-positive rent boys, an orphaned prostitute, a bitter, failed writer, and a seven-year-old sweet seller who is already head of his family. This small community is under the protective eye of Maria Aparecida, an ageing carnival queen.A short, sharp novel about a group of people who congregate daily in a square in the north-eastern city of Salvador de Bahia. In monologues, the protagonists introduce themselves to readers as they go about their businesses – struggling to make a living. The characters, although mostly archetypal, are written with warmth and empathy. Among them are a popcorn vendor, two gay, HIV-positive rent boys, an orphaned prostitute, a bitter, failed writer, and a seven-year-old sweet seller who is already head of his family. This small community is under the protective eye of Maria Aparecida, an ageing carnival queen.
The arrival of an outsider, Gringa, is a catalyst for change, forcing group members to re-examine their lives. Some abandon Bahia, following their dreams – nourished by TV soap operas – to find a better life in the megacities of the south. But life can be hard, and harsh, in the big urban world.The arrival of an outsider, Gringa, is a catalyst for change, forcing group members to re-examine their lives. Some abandon Bahia, following their dreams – nourished by TV soap operas – to find a better life in the megacities of the south. But life can be hard, and harsh, in the big urban world.
The passionately told story offers a slice of 21st-century Brazil: in Rio's violent, gang-ridden favelas, on São Paulo's anonymous, busy streets and under the brutal regime of Bahia's Canju prison.The passionately told story offers a slice of 21st-century Brazil: in Rio's violent, gang-ridden favelas, on São Paulo's anonymous, busy streets and under the brutal regime of Bahia's Canju prison.
Traboulsi, a lawyer of Lebanese and Brazilian parentage, delivers a powerful, gritty and impressive debut novel.Traboulsi, a lawyer of Lebanese and Brazilian parentage, delivers a powerful, gritty and impressive debut novel.
A Death in Brazil by Peter RobbA Death in Brazil by Peter Robb
Robb eruditely entwines food with history and politics. His book is littered with fascinating digressions and his appetite for culinary delights is matched by an appetite for knowledge.Robb eruditely entwines food with history and politics. His book is littered with fascinating digressions and his appetite for culinary delights is matched by an appetite for knowledge.
The sweep through 500 years of history – from colonisation by the Portuguese, through decades of military dictatorship to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's first term as president – is entertaining and informative, and often reads like a novel (and a thriller at that). It covers the brutal slavery that lasted longer than anywhere else in the western hemisphere, the destruction of the fugitive slave settlement in Palmares, and the war against the religious community at Canudos. Along the way Robb introduces us to classic Brazilian literary works.The sweep through 500 years of history – from colonisation by the Portuguese, through decades of military dictatorship to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's first term as president – is entertaining and informative, and often reads like a novel (and a thriller at that). It covers the brutal slavery that lasted longer than anywhere else in the western hemisphere, the destruction of the fugitive slave settlement in Palmares, and the war against the religious community at Canudos. Along the way Robb introduces us to classic Brazilian literary works.
The death of the title is the grisly and mysterious end of PC Farias – fixer and bagman to the corrupt president Fernando Collor de Mello – but there are many other deaths, through genocide, massacres, assassinations and crimes of passion.The death of the title is the grisly and mysterious end of PC Farias – fixer and bagman to the corrupt president Fernando Collor de Mello – but there are many other deaths, through genocide, massacres, assassinations and crimes of passion.
The Australian writer, who has lived for many years in Italy and Brazil, paints an affectionate, perceptive portrait of the country – but burns with anger at the monstrous inequities in Brazilian society.The Australian writer, who has lived for many years in Italy and Brazil, paints an affectionate, perceptive portrait of the country – but burns with anger at the monstrous inequities in Brazilian society.
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