Quincas Borba

Machado de Assis is a genius. Born from a very poor family, he learned languages during the Brazilian imperial period where lower classes were very limited to access education. He started with very typical romantic novels although with his own style. He married a well educated portuguese woman who introduced him more selected european literature. After 40 years old Machado wrote what we classified as classics. Machado's style was not a realistic naturalism writer. Machado is Machado. He created his own style helping literature to go ahead of his time. A genius.

"Quincas Borba" is one of a series of fine novels by Brazilian author Joaquim Maria Machado de Assis. The author, who died in 1908, is one of the major figures of 19th century South American literature. "Quincas Borba" is a sort of companion volume to another of the author's novels, "The Posthumous Memoirs of Bras Cubas." While "Quincas Borba" does not, in my opinion, attain the level of literary inventiveness of its companion novel, it is still a fascinating, and ultimately moving, piece of fiction. It has been translated into a smooth English by Gregory Rabassa."Quincas Borba" tells the story of Rubiao, who inherits a fortune, as well as a pet dog, from the eccentric philosopher Quincas Borba. Curiously, the dog is also named Quincas Borba. The novel follows Rubiao as he attempts to find love and fulfillment in 19th century Brazil. The novel contains many ironic comments on the craft of writing itself, and examines the political, sexual, and economic complexities of Rubiao's world. The author's writing is peppered with intriguing cultural allusions: Poe, Shakespeare's "Othello," Homer, Mozart, Kant, Dante's "Inferno," and more. "Quincas Borba" is an effective mix of comedy and tragedy. Machado de Assis writes with both insight into and compassion for the human condition. Those interested in 19th century literature, Latin American studies, or the development of the novel should definitely read this book.

This is one of the best books I've ever read! The story of the ascencion and fall of a man, his sanity and madness, make us think about our human condition. Machado de Assis is undobted the best Brazilian writer.