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Memoirs of a Militia Sergeant

Manuel Antonio de Almeida author Ronald W Sousa translator

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Oxford University Press Inc

Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back

Memoirs of a Militia Sergeant cover

Recognized as a turning point in Brazilian literature, this entertaining novel of urban manners follows the ne'er-do-well Leonardo through his various romantic liaisons and frequent scrapes with the law. First printed in weekly installments in 1852, and later published in two volumes in 1854-55, Memoirs of a Militia Sergeant comprises a series of humorous vignettes held together by the adventures and misfortunes of this young rogue--who matures from a handful of a toddler into a ruffian of a boy and an idler of a young man--and his father, also named Leonardo. Manuel Antônio De Almeida tells a story in everyday language that is rich in detail of life on the streets and the modest circumstances of the free poor of Rio de Janeiro. Through satirical accounts of the escapades of characters who always seem close to the brink of some personal crisis or social misstep, yet who manage to pull through by hook or by crook, Almeida makes a subtle and incisive comment on Brazilian urban society and culture of the nineteenth century. Now available in a new and lively translation, Memoirs of a Military Sergeant occupies an important position in the satirical literature of Brazil and the world.

"An exquisite and timely English edition of one of Brazil's most important Romantic novels."--Leo Bernucci, University of Colorado "...This 19th-century Brazilian classic that, with its uniquely satirical stance and reliance on caricature, counteracts the fiction of his time....Readable and accessible, this is the first English translation in 30 years, and it continues the fine standards of the reputable Oxford series. Recommended for public and academic libraries."--Library Journal "A rediscovered gem: both a historically important work and a terrific entertainment."--Kirkus

ISBN: 9780195115505

Dimensions: 216mm x 140mm x 12mm

Weight: 268g

208 pages