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Loading... Cousin Bazilio (1878)by José Maria Eça de Queiroz
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Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book. No current Talk conversations about this book. Durante uma viagem prolongada de seu marido, Luísa se deixa seduzir por Basílio, um primo seu que voltava a Portugal depois de uma temporada no Brasil. Imprudentes e indiscretos, os amantes acabam flagrados por Juliana, a empregada da casa, que passa a chantagear a patroa. Com o anúncio da iminente volta do marido, está armado o cenário para um caso exemplar de decadência do estilo de vida pequeno-burguês, com seus preconceitos e moralismos, seus tipos parasitários, suas relações amesquinhadas e seu frágil equilíbrio. de Queiros sets the scene like a playwright. Here are the young couple- bored, light-minded golden haired Luisa, and her husband Jorge, off on a lengthy work-based trip. At a farewell party we meet their friends - among others Jorge's faithful friend Sebastian, charged with keeping a fatherly eye on Luisa. Oh, and a theatre director, whose latest offering - a tale of a faithless wife- has Jorge advocating the wretched woman die for her crimes. Meanwhile, Luisa's handsome cousin - and erstwhle romance- Bazilio, is due back in Lisbon from work in Brazil. And on the sidelines is an ugly and much abused servant, Juliana.... I shall say no more, but it's highly readable! As Zola commented "(de Queiros) is far greater than my own dear master, Flaubert." When her husband travels for work, the charming but vapid Luiza falls into the arms of her cousin Bazilio and heads for her own destruction. Eça de Queirós is one of my favorite writers and Cousin Bazilio is another of his wonderful satires of bourgeois life in 19th-century Lisbon. It is somewhat reminiscent of Madame Bovary, but this story is peopled by a plethora of characters that are both sympathetic and amusing. There are no real villains or heroes - all characters get to take their turn at being pitied, admired, or despised. It is also quite amusing to think that this was considered quite outrageous when it was first published due to some naughty aspects, whereas by today's standards, it's borderline chaste. I particularly enjoy how the social realist style of Queirós' can't help but display the hypocritical rules of society, especially when it comes to female sexuality and morality. no reviews | add a review
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Returning from Brazil, Bazilio tells his cousin Louisa of the brave new world. His revelation leads to a evastating conclusion. "O Primo Bazilio has a far deeper tragedy than Madame Bovary" wrote Roy Campbell, "because the girl involved is . . . a most loveable character. One of the most tragic novels of the nineteenth century." No library descriptions found.
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Depois, Juliana (esta grande personagem de Eça) abre o caminho para a tragédia de Luiza:
Até ao fim, vai ser o caminhar para a tragédia.
Um poema de William Blake poderia fechar a leitura deste “episódio doméstico”, em que Eça de Queirós faz com mestria uma profunda crítica à burguesia lisboeta da época:
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