Chronicle of the Murdered House -

Lúcio Cardoso

Open Letter

2016

592 páginas

19h 44m

ISBN-10: 1940953502

"The book itself is strange―part Faulknerian meditation on the perversities, including sexual, of degenerate country folk; part Dostoevskian examination of good and evil and God―but in its strangeness lies its rare power, and in the sincerity and seriousness with which the essential questions are posed lies its greatness."―Benjamin Moser, from the introduction

Long considered one of the most important works of twentieth-century Brazilian literature, Chronicle of the Murdered House is finally available in English.

Set in the southeastern state of Minas Gerais, the novel relates the dissolution of a once proud patriarchal family that blames its ruin on the marriage of its youngest son, Valdo, to Nina―a vibrant, unpredictable, and incendiary young woman whose very existence seems to depend on the destruction of the household. This family's downfall, peppered by stories of decadence, adultery, incest, and madness, is related through a variety of narrative devices, including letters, diaries, memoirs, statements, confessions, and accounts penned by the various characters.

Lúcio Cardoso (1912-1968) turned away from the social realism fashionable in 1930s Brazil and opened the doors of Brazilian literature to introspective works such as those of Clarice Lispector―his greatest follower and admirer.

Margaret Jull Costa has translated dozens of works from both Spanish and Portuguese, including books by Javier Marías and José Saramago. Her translations have received numerous awards, including the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award. In 2014 she was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire.

Robin Patterson was mentored by Margaret Jull Costa, and has translated Our Musseque by José Luandino Vieira.

Resenhas (239)

4.5 (Muito bom)

Uma história primorosa contada por diversas vozes.

Algumas coisas me lembrou um pouco o livro Anna Karienina. Principalmente a personagem Nina que tem o mesmo jeito manipulador e egocêntrico dela, totalmente desapegada dos laços familiares. Mas as semelhanças acabam aí.
Nina é maldosa, sem escrúpulos, capaz de qualquer coisa. Se aproveitava da atração que causava nos homens e das paixões insanas que despertava. A história toda gira em torno dela, ela é a peça central. Apesar disso, não a considero como protagonista. Acredito que a Ana se encaixa mais nesse papel.
Todos os personagens são interessantíssimos e foram bem construídos. Tive um carinho especial pelo Timóteo, pelo Padre Justino e pela Betty.
O autor escreveu uma obra-prima e não teve como não favoritar esse clássico nacional.
Só não levou 5 estrelas porque achei que a história demorou um pouco para engrenar.
Leitura super recomendada.