Quincas Borba [Paperback]

Along withThe Posthumous Memoirs of Br??s CubasandDom Casmurro,Quincas Borbais one of Machado de Assis' major works and indeed one of the major works of nineteenth century fiction. With his uncannily postmodern sensibility, his delicious wit, and his keen insight into the political and social complexities of the Brazilian Empire, Machado opens a fascinating world to English speaking readers.
When the mad philosopher Quincas Borba dies, he leaves to his friend Rubi??o the entirety of his wealth and property, with a single stipulation: Rubi??o must take care of Quincas Borba's dog, who is also named Quincas Borba, and who may indeed have assumed the soul of the dead philosopher. Flush with his newfound wealth, Rubi??o heads for Rio de Janeiro and plunges headlong into a world where fantasy and reality become increasingly difficult to keep separate. Brilliantly translated by Gregory Rabassa,Quincas Borbais a masterful satire not only on life in Imperial Brazil but the human condition itself.

Gregory Rabassais the preeminent American translator of Spanish and Portuguese, whose works includeOne Hundred Years of SolitudeandThe Posthumous Memoirs of Br??s Cubas.Celso Favarettoteaches at the University of S??o Paulo.David T. Haberlyteaches at the University of Virginia.