Tent of Miracles

Tent of Miracles (THE AMERICAS) Another Masterpiece by Jorge Amado Although not as fast a read as "Dona Flor and her Two Husbands" or "Gabriela, Clove and Cinnamon", "Tent of Miracles" is an outstanding piece of work which relates the entire life and the posthumous celebration of the Centennial of Birth of the mulatto Pedro Archanjo, alias Ojuobá- the Eyes of the King-. Archanjo's struggle throughout his entire life centers around racism, the wellbeing of the mix breed and the understanding of miscegenation in the Brazilian area of Bahia from the early 1900's until the time of his death around the end of WWII. Archanjo is a womanizer, a studhorse who could have only sons, an autodidact who mastered several languages, a grand buddy and companion, a performer of voodoo ceremonies with a free laugh, a dancer, a great conversationalist and listener, a sociologist, an anthropologist, an ethnologist, and, principally, an utterly excellent reader and writer. Nevertheless, he does not put pen to paper on anything: the core of his work lies on the lives and struggles of the mestizo race and on proving, without little doubt, that the Brazilian face is a mestizo face and its culture is mestizo. He actually accomplishes to put in writing four books, rather pamphlets, namely: "Daily Life in Bahia", "The African Influence on the Customs of Bahia", "Notes on Miscegenation in the Families of Bahia" and a "Cookbook". "Notes on Miscegenation..." was written when he was about fifty years old and proves that no single family in the area was pure white. As a matter of fact, pure or Aryan race was a thing that did not exist in Bahia or in Brazil for all that matters. These facts, which were supported with great evidence, brought about great controversies among the stiff nosed so-called whites of the region. The voodoos ceremonies were prohibited and prosecuted by the police, the intermarriages were just about forbidden or very badly considered and the mulattos, Negroes or mestizos were considered no better than animals. But what really stroke me was the real friendship that Archanjo was able to pursue with his - so called- twin brother: Lidio Corro, the Miracle Painter at the Tent of Miracles. They both were in love with the same woman, Rosa de Oxalá, however, Archanjo, who could have had the woman he wanted, let go of her for Lidio's sake. The book is also filled with myriad voodoo ceremonies, dances, faithfulness, enchantments, convictions and terminology. And last, but not least, you get the benefit of a myriad examples of "magical realism" within this wonderful prose. It is definitely worth the read.

Firstly, I would like to mention that this book was "assigned reading" for a Latin America history class. However, within the first few pages, the lines did not feel like homework. Armado weaves a picutre of Bahian life so vivid that you feel you are walking behind the characters; hence the need to brush the Brazilian dirt. His story gave much insight into Brazilian life and centered, as the other reviewers have mentioned, on the mestizo/mullato struggle. I can only offer one suggestion to future readers: although it's not absolutely necessary, it would enrich the journey through the story if the reader knew at least something about macumba -- black witchcraft or voodoo. I didn't and I wished I had. This is a book you won't regret reading. There are some great tidbits of true genius.

The name Jorge Amado has been largely ignored by most of the English-speaking world. His passing did not even warrant a note in the NY Times despite his works having been translated into thirty-one languages, filmed, and serialized as soap operas. His books contain some of the most beautiful prose written. There is no limit to the quality of this, in my opinion, his best work. Amado's talent for showing the beauty and glory in the mundane is unmatched. That minor gesture, this habit, those pecularities of character, all become mountains. The protagonist, Pedro Archanjo, is both a free-spirited, entertaining, beloved rogue and a fierce activist for social justice. The locale of Bahía is the home of this tale and the setting could not be better. After an American intellectual celebrity 'discovers' the writings of Pedro Archanjo, a race is on to show who was the biggest supporter of the man who has now become a hero, posthumously. The story occurs along two lines, one is in Archanjo's lifetime and the second during the hoopla generated decades later by the professor from Columbia University. Both tales are resplendent reflections of Bahían life. One has the poverty-stricken barrio of Archanjo's residence with cardsharks, gangsters, capoeiristas and sporting houses. The other modern discos, celebrity worship, and the fantastic possibilities of memory. The tale demonstrates well and humorously the appropriation of history by the present for its own purposes. There are too many wonderful aspects of this novel to describe in this small space. I recommend this novel to anyone who asks for the reason that even with the strife that takes place in it, this book contains a world completely enviable because the people in it seem far more alive than almost any we meet in life.

To me, this is the most important and the best book by Jorge. The book is about the life of Pedro Archanjo, a mulatto man who spent his whole life fighting prejudice. The book teaches you about the Roguish lifestyle Archanjo lived, his growth and maturity and his death. It is very interesting how the interest for why Archanjo wrote grows exponentially as you keep reading. Also, the book deals with the commericalization of Archanjo after his death when an American Genius tells the Brazilian press about his respect for the land of Pedro Archanjo. Within a few days the newspapers make a big deal and lie about the life of Pedro Archanjo to sell ads. The author, a poet suffering the pangs of love, tell you about Archanjo, but also about his personal life. You may ask why I call refer to the author by first name. The reason is because after reading most of his books, I feel like I know him and I tell that this is a must read(this book has the most untraslated terms than any other of Jorge's books, which makes it so much better). If you like Jorge, please email me.

The pursuits of knowlegdge and the importance of true friendship come together well in this book. The characters are so vivid, you might as well be there in person. If you want to live the adventure, Amado is the one to read.