Novel
Gabriela, Clove and Cinnamon
Gabriela, cravo e canela
Jorge Amado · 1958
Synopsis
Ilhéus, the cacao town of Bahia, in 1925: a record harvest enriches the town, which wants to give itself a modern air without giving up political violence or the vengeance of deceived husbands. Colonel Jesuíno Mendonça has just killed his wife and her lover. Nacib, a Syrian who runs the Vesúvio bar, hires as cook Gabriela, a young mixed-race woman from the backlands who has come to escape the drought. At the same time, Mundinho Falcão, a young businessman arrived from Rio, disputes power with the old colonel Ramiro Bastos and wants the sandbank that closes the port to be cleared.
Context
The novel appeared in 1958. It opens a second period in its author's work, in which he partly abandons the social realism of his early books in favour of female figures and a celebration of the traditions of Bahia; Jean-Paul Sartre saw in it the best example of the popular novel. The book combines a love story, a picture of the political forces of Brazil in the 1920s and a satire of dreams of modernity. Translated into English as early as 1962, it was adapted for television by the Globo network in 1975, with Sônia Braga in the title role.
Who it is for
A sweeping novel with many characters, mixing a love story with political chronicle; the French translation by Georges Boisvert appeared from Stock in 1971.
Prizes and reception
Translated into more than thirty languages and adapted several times, it ranks among its author's greatest successes.
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