In 1807, the Portuguese prince regent Dom Joao made an extraordinary decision. Although horrified by the idea of sea travel, Napoleon's troops were closing in on Lisbon so he opted to transplant his entire court and government to Portugal's largest colony, Brazil. 10,000 aristocrats, ministers, priests and servants clambered aboard the rickety fleet. After a rough passage they spilled off their ships bedraggled and lice-ridden to the astonishment of their new-world subjects. Thus began a thirteen-year period of imperial rule from a 'tropical Versailles' set against the city's jungle-clad mountains. But this only partially obscured the brutal workings of what was then the largest slaving port in the Americas. While the court grappled with the dark side of its own empire, Brazil was coming of age. Patrick Wilcken brings this remarkable period to the life, blending vivid contemporary testament with a rich evocation of a time in history when European royalty went native.
| ||||||||||||||||||||
Book Description
Frequently Bought Together
Editorial Reviews
Review
'A brilliant account of a bizarre yet momentous event Wilcken tells this unfamiliar yet extraordinary story with elan. Empire Adrift is a model of historical writing, erudite yet lively, maintaining narrative vigour while accurately rendering complex events at different times in different continents. Wilcken combines a sense of place with a keen eye for the grotesque. He has a striking cast of characters to work with' Guardian 'Wilcken is a consummate portraitist, and one learns a great deal of the machinations and ambitions of diplomats and of the intrigues of royal relations' Irish Times 'Wilcken's perceptive and skilful narration of the extraordinary culture clash between New and Old Worlds is fascinating, at times hilarious and helps explain why modern Brazil turned out so differently from its South American neighbours' Alex Bellos, author of Futebol 'He writes well, describing events or evoking characters. The narrative is fast-moving and lucid By telling a good story, and placing it in multiple contexts, he makes Empire Adrift a distinguished and enjoyable first book' Times Literary Supplement
About the Author
Patrick Wilcken grew up in Sydney and studied at Goldsmiths College and the Institute of Latin American Studies in London. He has contributed Brazil-related reviews and features to the Times Literary Supplement and the Guardian. He has spent lengthy periods in Rio de Janeiro and now lives in Battersea, London. This is his first book.
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
I really enjoyed reading this book,
By R.A. "Array" (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Empire Adrift (Paperback)
This is one of the few books that grabbed my attention. It was hard to interrupt. I usually read 15 min inside the metro and then transfer to a bus where I hate to read but couldn't stop! The author had access to many important and rare documents, and he appears very balanced in quoting his sources under a broader perspective and accessing the credibility of each. This is specially so of Lord Strangford. For me, a double citizen of Brazil and Portugal, the book was extremely instructive. The story is brilliantly told, captivating. I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book about Brazilian history,
By MCMagalhaes "Castelo" (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Empire Adrift (Paperback)
This book is not only a great history book but also entertaining and easy to read. The author is able to provide a broad context so we can understand how Brazilian, Portuguese, French and English people interacted and shaped Brazilian history. It is really well written and I highly recommend it!
5.0 out of 5 stars
Well-researched lively history,
This review is from: Empire Adrift (Paperback)
This is a lively narrative of the relocation of the Portuguese court from Portugal to Brazil at the time of the Napoleonic invasion of the Iberian Peninsula. The Portuguese court moved to Brazil, Portugal's largest colony, in 1807, with 10,000 people, from ministers and clergy to servants. In Brazil, Rio was going to be the new capital of Portugal and its Empire. In this book you will meet a gallery of striking characters, the Prince Regent, Queen Maria, Dona Carlota, and others. Dom Pedro, the heir to the throne, displays a rather shocking behaviour. Well-researched history and a vivid narrative combine to make this an impressive work. You may remember this book for ever.
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
|
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
