Machado De Assis: The Brazilian Master and His Novels

Caldwell's critical and biographical study explores Machado de Assis' purpose, meaning, and artistic method in each of his nine novels, published between 1872 and 1908. She traces the ideas and recurrent themes and identifies his affinities with other authors, showing his experimentation with narrative techniques and his development of individual characters. The book also explores Machado's intellectual life as a poet, journalist, playwright, conversationalist, and academician.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 278 pages
Publication date: 29 April 2022
Publisher: University of California Press

Machado de Assis is one of the most original and creative minds in Brazil's rich literary tradition, spanning four centuries. Caldwell's critical and biographical study delves into the purpose, meaning, and artistic methods of Machado's nine novels, published between 1872 and 1908. She explores the ideas and recurring themes in his works, identifies his affinities with other authors, and traces his experimentation with narrative techniques. Caldwell reveals Machado's subtle use of point of view, including indirect, reflected, and multiple perspectives, akin to Chinese boxes. She showcases his ability to individualize characters and develop action through bold allusions and symbols, surpassing the realism of his time. Each novel is seen as an artistic venture, rather than a regurgitation of a sick soul, as some critics have argued. Caldwell also explores other aspects of Machado's intellectual life, including his roles as a poet, journalist, playwright, playwright. playwriter, conversationalist, and academician. Of particular interest is her attention to his shift from social criticism in his early novels to the labyrinth of individual psychology in his last five, which are considered among the world's literature. However, this perceptive account never loses sight of Machado's supreme comedy, encompassing wit, irony, satire, parody, burlesque, and humor, present in every piece of his fiction and every character. Caldwell unveils Machado as a writer, essentially a poet, who remains the pinnacle of Brazilian letters. This title is part of UC Press' Voices Revived program, which commemorates the University of California Press' mission to seek out and nurture exceptional writing.

Weight: 363g
Dimension: 216 x 140 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780520307223