Product Description

A collage of travel, history, culture and personal reminiscence, taking the reader to the pulsing heart of Brazil.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #126528 in Books
• Published on: 2005-06-06
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 352 pages

Daily Mail
‘It is compellingly readable and elegant. In fact, anyone planning a trip to Brazil should read this book’

Daily Telegraph
‘Outstanding … a heady and fascinating picture of an extraordinary country’

Sunday Times
‘Robb is a superb stylist, and this brilliant dissection of modern Brazil is unputdownable’

Customer Reviews

Try ignoring the bleeding heart
An interesting enough book, with great descriptions of the cuisine and the people. Far too leftist for my tastes, but as long as you take the politics with a hefty pinch of salt or better still ignore it entirely, it's quite harmless.

The most irritating thing, however, is the overuse of italics. About half way through the book, that's going to really start getting on your nerves.

Life, death, sex and everything in between
Peter Robb writes a tight book which manages to be expressive, entertaining and concise. He doesn't waste a word, and manages to keep you enthralled in the workings of a country which has yet to find a full expression of it's culture.

Though Robb shows his approval for Lulu, Brazil's current President, without qualifying or really examining if he has changed Brazil for the better. You can only admire his ability to present the histories, both old and new, of Brazil. Robb looks to try to make sense of the Brazil's present 'progress' with what has happened in it's colourful, but tragic past.

I was entranced by his descriptions of the old 'Palmares' settlement and the destruction of 'Canudos'. Rarely will you find an author that knows his subject so well and is able to get across so much in such an entertaining way. I would thoroughly recommend this book to anyone.

My only negative note is that he does not include any photographs of Brazil, the main political protagonists or places of interest which would have made it easier for me to get a proper understanding of the world he talks of.

First class
Peter Robb's book is a masterpiece - nothing I have read in recent years comes as close to giving the reader a deep and meaningful insight into this fascinating country. From corruption to carnival, from history to food, Robb is the master of his topic and you move effortlessly through a book that is always a compelling read. You put 'A Death in Brazil' down at the end with that sense of regret you always get with a book that is a truly wonderful read. I was entertained and informed at the same time, and didn't want it to end. If you want a better understanding of Brazil - its terrible problems and its wonderful people and culture - simply don't hesitate to buy this book. Should the author chance to read this - I would just like to say thank you for a terrific piece of work.