Brazil (Paperback)

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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Pulsing with vigor, this is a vast novel to tell the story of a vast country from the early 1490s, just before the arrival of the first Portuguese, to 1960, year of Brasilia's inauguration as the new capital. Violence, cruelty and greed are its predominant burthen (though lightened with flashes of romantic passion, pathos, heroism and high-minded idealism), as Uys depicts Brazil's evolution from colony to kingdom to empire to republic. The narrative encompasses the massacre and enslavement of the Indians; battles with rival Dutch colonists; all-out war with Paraguay; and the brutal crushing of rebellion. Lacing the tale together are two families: the Cavalcantis, planters and slave owners, with here and there a priest or administrator; and, representing another fundamental social stratum, the da Silvas, prospectors, adventurers, seekers of El Dorado. The principal characters, both real and imaginary, are hard to forget. Among them: the great Indian warrior Aruana; Secundus Proot, a Dutch artist who wanders into the interior to paint Indians; Black Peter, a freed African slave who takes murderous revenge on his persecutors; Francisco Lopez, doomed and gallant president of Paraguay; Anthony the Counselor, visionary rebel. Uys recreates history almost entirely "at ground level," even more densely than Michener, through the eyes and actions of an awesome cast of characters. Literary Guild alternate.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Uys has attempted a Michener-like de piction of nearly 500 years of Brazilian history replete with struggles of libera tion and revolution, oppression of na tives and slaves, and misguided nation alism and religion. Family members and acquaintances in each generation portray changing attitudes. The novel begins in the late 1400s with the native Tupiniquim Aruna. The Portuguese are represented by the Cavalcantis, early landed settlers with huge plantations, and the da Silvas, shippers and explor ers. This massive novel is ponderous and basically plotless. Frequent stretches of narrative explain what has happened since the time span last cov ered. Characterizations and interac tions are inadequate; women take a pe ripheral role. While the history is interesting, it would have been more palatable in smaller doses with better developed plot and characterizations. Literary Guild featured alternate. Ellen Kaye Stoppel, Drake Univ. Law Lib., Des Moines
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 800 pages
• Publisher: Silver Spring Books (July 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0916562514
• ISBN-13: 978-0916562519
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #689,706 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brazilian history through the eyes of its people, October 8, 2000

By	John Malathronas (London United Kingdom) - See all my reviews

I am an avid reader of novels which try to humanise the history of a country by telling it through fictional family lines, whose lives are enmeshed is real, bona-fide historical events. But for a book truly to work, two pre-conditions must be in place: the characters in question should be drawn from dissimilar backgrounds, which depends mostly on the appeal of the country depicted (Michener's Hawaii springs to mind) plus the author must be highly conversant with its social history and have enough flair to sustain interest over the multitude of characters, episodes and, ultimately, pages.

Brazil and Errol Uys fit the bill perfectly. The country is a fascinating amalgam of colonisers, native Indians and slaves and Uys has a compelling narrative style with down-to-earth dialogue, a first-rate selection of events to illustrate, leading to many a sub-climax, and a wealth of representative individuals to portray. You will be spellbound by the detail of the life and customs of the Tupí Indians, you will shake your head with disbelief at the Boy's Own adventures of the bandeirantes and you will be carried away by the treachery of the first failed movements for independence, mirroring those in the United States. The section on the devastating Paraguayan War is my favourite in a continuous stream of highlights, with its cinematic sweep from bloody battlefields and wounded soldiers to corrupt dictators and their beautiful mistresses.

Just as a postscript: this book inspired me to learn Portuguese, travel to Brazil and study its history; I can not personally praise it more than that.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A very readable account of Brazil's history, September 18, 2000

By	Jeroen van de Graaf "[e-mail]" (Belo Horizonte, MG Brazil) - See all my reviews

The book treats Brazil's history in the form of a novel. I believe the book to be the most accessible account to Brazil's history. History books are often very boring, but because of the novel-format this book is easy to read, also giving insight into everyday aspects of life. Some of the characters are ficticious, but the author writes that as far as the historical characters are concerned, the story agrees with what has been recorded about these persons. And from all I have learned since about Brazil's history, this has been confirmed. I've read the book twice already, borrowing it from the Montreal public library. Now I am married to a Brazilian and live in Brazil, and I am buying it, partially as a reference.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fun and educational, November 10, 2000

By A Customer

As a Brazilian born US resident who was educated in both countries, I found the book fascinating. It was not only entertaining, but it also filled many "gaps" in the knowledge I had of the country. Having had some years of Brazilian History in school was really helpful in allowing me to pinpoint fact from ficton, and that made the book all the more enjoyable.