Prince of the People: The Life and Times of a Brazilian Free Man of Color [Hardcover]

Eduardo Silva (Author), Moyra Ashford (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 17, 1993

Silva provides a case study of the life and ideas of the self-styled Dom Oba II d'Africa, Prince of the People and "street character."

Although to his social superiors, Dom Oba II d'Africa was no more than a "half-crazed" man whom the Brazilian emperor, Dom Pedro II was misguided enough to receive at the palace, to Rio's slaves and people of colour he was revered as Prince of the People. Many paid him tithe as if he were a true African sovereign; they went down on their knees at his solemn passage; they met in bars to read aloud the articles which he published both in the popular press and in the quality journals of the day. Through this extraordinary figure, Silva finds an opportunity to explore popular ideas about the overthrow of slavery. He examines what the slaves and free people "of color" thought about liberty, race relations, civic rights and duties.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

In late 18th-century Brazil, during the twilight of the rule of the Emperor Pedro the Second, a free African Brazilian, Candido da Fonseca Galvao, attracted considerable attention, in part because of his perceived eccentric behavior. A veteran of Brazil's war with Paraguay, Dom Oba II d'Africa, as he was called, acted as a spokesman for the poor and representative of the black population to the political powers. Though he was considered demented by much of white society, he gained such notoriety that he was even received by the emperor. Silva, a well-known Brazilian historian, has written a fascinating study of Dom Oba that serves as a microhistory of Brazil and a view of black history seldom available. Though it treats a figure not known outside of Brazil, the story is fascinating and extremely well written and would be of interest to academic and public libraries alike.
- Mark L. Grover, Brigham Young Univ., Provo, Ut.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 232 pages
• Publisher: Verso (December 17, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0860914178
• ISBN-13: 978-0860914174
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,598,060 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.