In April of 1993, Brazilian voters were given a choice between continuing with a president, adopting a prime minister and parliament, or bringing back its long dormant monarchy. Carnival King is the story of what might have happened had they opted for the latter. Outlawing the G-string bikini on Rio de Janeiro's beaches! Auctioning the country's name to the highest bidder! A police escort for thousands of shantytown dwellers as they descend upon downtown Rio to call for freedom! These are just a few changes one can expect when a nation bending under the strain of democracy decides to give monarchy another try. As Brazil prepares to receive its new king -- the fourth in its history, but the first in one hundred years--it seems lawmakers have accounted for every eventuality, except for one tiny detail: identifying the legitimate Brazilian heir to the throne, when the Supreme Court suddenly disqualifies the Portuguese descendant. Needless to say, after one hundred years of Republicanism, Brazilian royalty isn't what it used to be. So it is not surprising that when the young man entrusted with the king's care, Marcos Antonio, meets his charge, he is less than awed. Brazil's home-grown monarch is an unkempt, thirty--something supermarket employee with a penchant for deep--fried pork, amateur climatology, and karaoke. His name: Reginaldo Santos--but you can call him "Reggie." It is Marcos' job to shepherd Reggie from the Brazilian countryside to the former, now present, imperial capital of Rio de Janeiro, and shape this rather unhewn figure into a model of regal proportion. Behind every great man there's another man dressed as a woman, and Reginaldo Santos is no exception. Bored with the monotony of his royal treatment, Reggie hits the town and meets a fellow monarch of sorts: the dazzling Marcela Seville, a drag queen who spends her nights on stage entertaining the endless stream of foreigners that flood Rio's Copacabana strip. When Reggie isn't busy debating with Marcela the pros and cons of tropical climates, he can be found at Rio's National Library reading up on his royal ancestry. From these readings, brought to life through a series of vignettes that intertwine with Reggie's story, we learn more about his predecessor, Dom Pedro II, another reluctant monarch, who, at the tender age of fifteen, inherited the kingdom of Brazil. These flashbacks to the nineteenth century tell the story of young Pedro's growth as a leader, achieved through his courageous support for abolition, a position he takes against his advisor's counsel and in direct conflict with his own dynastic interests. Meanwhile, one hundred years after the abolition of slavery, Reginaldo Santos must come to grips with lingering inequalities in modern Brazil, and help the citizenry take that next step from emancipation to full participation in the democratic process. The societal challenges Reginaldo and Pedro face may differ, but the struggle is ultimately the same: to rekindle their subjects' desire for freedom, even when it may signal the end of their rule. And to find, along the way, one's true self beneath the robes of a king. This comedy about Brazilian politics and history rests on the premise that the 1993 plebiscite on what form of government voters preferred-parliamentary, presidential, or monarchical-actually favored the latter.) James has captured the cynical mood of Brazilian politics amazingly well and his characters - a cast that includes reluctant monarchs, corrupt politicians, over-zealous cops, street vendors, and denizens of Rio de Janeiro's night life - jump off the page as true life figures, recognizable to anyone who has spent time in Brazil. James has a delightful narrative style and his characters speak in crisp, modern dialogue.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A fascinating fictional look at Brazilian history,
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This review is from: Carnival King: The last Latin Monarch (Paperback)
This novel looks at what would have happened if Brazilian voters had chosen monarchy over democracy in Brazil. That might sound farfetched, but in fact such a referendum was put before Brazilian voters in 1993. The book's protagonist, Reginaldo, is chosen to be the new monarch because he is the only Brazilian descendent of the last Brazilian emperor. Reginaldo, who works at a grocery store in a small town in Minas Gerais, is a truly un-kinglike character, something of a Brazilian Ignatius J. Reilly (see A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole). Without giving away too much of the plot, this makes for some pretty hilarious situations once Reginaldo is taken to the new capital of Rio de Janeiro. Interspersed throughout Reginaldo's story are vignettes from the life of his regal ancestor, Emperor Pedro II, giving an interesting historical perspective. This is a great book and a fun read, and should be of interest to both Brazilianists and fans of wry, somewhat offbeat humor. Since I fall into both those categories, I enjoyed this book immensely.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fun, Fascinating Read,
This review is from: Carnival King: The last Latin Monarch (Paperback)
James's book was a lot of fun to read and an interesting look into Brazilian culture from the elites to those living in poverty. Great, engaging characters in both modern and historic Brazil, and interweaving story lines.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
"Carnival King" review by Wireless,
By Wireless (Tallahassee, FL) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Carnival King: The last Latin Monarch (Paperback)
"Carnival King: The Last Latin Monarch" is a very good read by a new writer, Brent Alan James. It is a humorous and dramatic story with an underlying history lesson and social conscience. Even if you've never visited Brazil, you'll recognize at least one thing familiar in this book.
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