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Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
In a letter cited by the author's son in his introductory note, E a de Queiros (1846-1900) writes of a planned series of short novels "which would be a reflection of contemporary life in Portugal." He adds, "the attraction of these tales is that there are no digressions, no rhetoric, no philosophizing: everything is interesting and dramatic, and quickly narrated." Whether or not The Yellow Sofa was intended as one of these novels, the description fits. Godofredo da Concei ao Alves has a comfortable life: a beautiful wife, Lulu, and a good steady business in partnership with the handsome young gallant, Machado. Alves gets some vicarious pleasure from Machado's romantic escapades until he comes home to find his wife and partner entwined on his yellow sofa. Filled with what he supposes to be righteous outrage, he throws Lulu out and challenges Machado. But reality is an inconvenient intercessor. A duel seems honorable until one of his seconds urges him to make his will. He believes his wife's exile will redeem his home but now his morning shaving water is cold; his breakfast eggs are unpredictable; the cut-glass fruit bowl has a broken handle; and his linen is dirty. Alves is a romantic who likes his comforts and a man who is motivated by an almost interchangeable mix of generosity and cowardice. Most of all, in E a de Queiros's hands, he is a wonderful, gently mocking exemplar of bourgeois morality. (Nov.) FYI: Last year New Directions published E a de Queiros's The Illustrious House of Ramires, which was one of PW's Best Books for 1995.
Copyright 1996 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
Language Notes
Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Portugese
Original Language: Portugese
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Taut writing - a story of infidelity,
By
This review is from: Yellow Sofa (New Directions Classics) (Paperback)
I was completely unaware of Eca De Queiros prior to reading this book. He is an excellent writer - although this is a slim volume it successfully moves it characters through a number of changes and emotions as a marriage unravels in infidelity. The portrayal of the emotions, their "wallop", will remain with you long after you've finished the novel and the plot line is forgotten - in this sense, those who read for the quality of the writing may enjoy this book more than those who read for action and plot.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
De Quieros: A Final Post Script,
By A Customer
This review is from: Yellow Sofa (New Directions Classics) (Paperback)
A terse novel published posthumously 25 years after the author's death. While not his best work, it does seem to capture a recurrent theme in many of his works -- the rejection of Victorian-era morality and propriety. De Quieros probes the subjects of marital infidelity, betrayl, honor, forgiveness and reconciliation in 112 pages! This is an enjoyable, quick primer to De Quieros. By all means pick this up and follow it with The Illustrious House of Ramires and/or The Relic...Happy Reading.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
I enjoyed this for the same reasons I like Nabakov.,
By A Customer
This review is from: Yellow Sofa (New Directions Classics) (Paperback)
This is the first of Eca de Queiros that I have read. His style is economical, his writing seems almost effortless. Likewise, his selection of details packs meaning. This is not a perfect book, but highly enjoyable in the way that fine improvisation satisfies.
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First Sentence:
I ON THAT FATEFUL DAY, GODOFREDO DA CONCEIcao Alves, stifled by the heat and out of breath through rushing from Black Horse Square, pushed open the green baize door of his office in Gilders Street, precisely when the wall clock over the bookkeeper's desk Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
public promenade, yellow sofa Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
The Yellow Sofa, Nunes Vidal, Senhor Machado, Sao Bento Street, Senhor Neto, Cape Verde, Dona Maria Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
I ON THAT FATEFUL DAY, GODOFREDO DA CONCEIcao Alves, stifled by the heat and out of breath through rushing from Black Horse Square, pushed open the green baize door of his office in Gilders Street, precisely when the wall clock over the bookkeeper's desk Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
public promenade, yellow sofa Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
The Yellow Sofa, Nunes Vidal, Senhor Machado, Sao Bento Street, Senhor Neto, Cape Verde, Dona Maria Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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