This is the latest book by José Jorge Letria. It is the journey of a Portuguese in the court of King John VI installed in Rio de Janeiro.
It is a fictionalized portrait of exile history of the kings of Portugal in Brazil, during the French invasion. It is an exercise in literary quality, because it is not limited to the fictionalized portrait of an era, seeks to highlight the ambiguity of two completely disparate worlds. With a narrative without major frills, we foresee human nature, through its character-narrator, Antonio Vicente Pereira, a young soldier who is deployed for escort one of the most hated queen of Portugal, Carlota Joaquina. It is through his experience that we learn about this new world full of cultural influences that are unknown to him, but at the same time thrilling to discovered.
The book touches on how the Portuguese exiles, particularly the monarchy, establish ties with this new colony and how they are viewed by the new subjects. The role of slavery in the growth and development of the city, the "capital" of the Kingdom, and at the same time the influence of African culture, through the character of the witch Jandira.
It is also the narrator's reunion with his country and his descendants, after decades in Brazil, serving a boy he watched grow up, Dom Pedro, the future King of Portugal and Emperor of Brazil, during the liberal fights in Portugal, with his absolutist brother Dom Miguel.
It is the birth of a new country, thanks to the liberating King and his famous cry of Ipiranga. A historical celebration, a gender that I appreciate, about two people, two world linked by a common language and a certain chance that allowed the creation of one of the largest countries in South America Happy reading!
