Description
Set in mid-19th-century Rio de Janeiro, this novel follows Estácio as he investigates the mysterious origins of Helena, a young woman brought into his family’s home under complicated circumstances. As their relationship deepens, love collides with rigid social boundaries, inheritance, and the unspoken rules that govern respectability. Machado de Assis masterfully blends psychological insight with irony, using Helena’s story to probe themes of identity, legitimacy, power, and the quiet cruelty of class and family expectations. A tale of longing and moral entanglement, it builds toward a poignant reckoning with how society shapes— and distorts—what people believe they are allowed to feel.
Available Editions
paperback
University of California Press
Published Jan 1, 2021
209 pages
ISBN: 9780520322493
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Details
First Published
1929
Language
eng
Translation
From: por
Content Warnings
No content warnings identified.