Alfonso Lima Barreto (1881–1922)

Policarpo Quaresma é obcecado pelo seu país. Em tudo o que pratica na vida, seja nas funções públicas administrativas ou no aprendizado de um instrumento musical para entreter. Quaresma busca enaltecer os valores que, para ele, são genuinamente brasileiros e levá-los adiante, onde possa de fato transformar toda a sua nação.
Ridicularizado e ignorado por todos, sua luta constitui uma crítica do ambiente político e burocrático do Brasil no início da República, que reflete e atua ainda nos dias de hoje.… (mere)

Brazil, actually Rio, in the 1890s. A story that (perhaps too) closely follows the political developments of that decade, so familiarity would be very helpful (I spent a LOT of time going back and forth with the helpful notes which, though useful, aren’t as good as really knowing the people and the history first-hand). The protagonist is a champion for everything Brazilian and is a very sympathetic character. The book is good and, given Barreto's clear political and social sympathies, must have been controversial in its day. I can see how it could still be an important book in Brazil but I'm not sure how well it survive outside its own milieu. I enjoyed it for the most part but I guess the best illustration of my ambivalence is that it took several weeks to finish a easily readable 200-page book.… (mere)