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This classic work is must reading for anyone who would understand Brazil and Latin America, past and present. First published in 1985 and now expanded to include a new chapter on women in Brazilian history, the book explores the social, political, economic, and intellectual currents that shaped nineteenth-century Brazil and whose reverberations continue to be felt throughout contemporary Brazilian society.

Placing her findings in a rich comparative context with regard to U.S. history, Emilia Viotti da Costa concentrates on crucial moments in Brazilian history to shed light on a number of vexing questions: Why in a nation so rich in material resources is there so much poverty? How was slavery abolished without bloodshed in a country where slaves had represented the main labor force for almost four hundred years? Why did self-described liberal elites twice lead the country toward authoritarian regimes? In exploring these and other puzzles, she uncovers the realities behind many of the persistent myths surrounding the Brazilian empire. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A Revisionist History that's a Primer too!
The title says it all.The book is concise and informative as da Costa refutes long-held views about Brazilian history by focusing, largely, on the ruling classes.While this is an interesting and controversial way to do history with the primacy of subaltern studies in historical research, da Costa's microscopic focus on the elite left something to be desired.We want to hear the voices of the poorer classes.

Nonetheless, the book raises interesting questions about the Brazilian upper classes' agency in modern Brazil's startling rich/poor dichotomy. While the dependency school of history claims that this was created in large part by European and North American multi-national corporations, da Costa argues that modern Brazil's issues are in large part the creation of the Brazilian elite themselves, who do anything and everything possible to keep the masses down--including allying themselves with aforementioned multi-nationals.

PROS:
concise, informative and pithy especially as it explores the "myth of the helpless woman."

CONS:
It could have been longer, including the effects of the Brazilian elites actions on the lower classes.
... Read more

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Choro is a type of Brazilian popular music similar in background to the celebrated Cuban son of Buena Vista Social Club fame. Choro started in Rio de Janeiro as a fusion of African-based rhythms and structures with European instruments and dance forms. In the 20th century, it came to represent social and racial diversity in Brazil and was integrated into mainstream film, radio, and recordings throughout Latin America and Europe. It formed a basis for Brazilian jazz and influenced the music of Heitor Villa Lobos. Today choro is viewed as a type of popular folk/traditional music in its own right. Its history parallels that of race, class, and nationality in Brazil over the last 100 years.

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This volume of collected articles is the first to focus exclusively on the history of homosexuality in the Portuguese-speaking world. Of the thirteen studies included, nine make available for the first time in English the work of eminent Luso-Brazilian historians, including no less than three by the preeminent researcher in the field, Professor Luiz Mott of the Federal University of Bahia. Two others analyze in detail the first novels, The Baron of Lavos in Portugal and Bom-Crioulo in Brazil—both written in the 1890s—that portray a homosexual relationship in a frankly realistic way. The collection should serve as essential reading for courses in Portuguese and Brazilian social history. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

useful glossary and an excellent indexin Portuguese and Brazilian history
This is the best introduction that one could find to gays and homosexuals in Portuguese and Brazilian history from the 15th century to the 20th. The book examines the lives of a number of them, both at the top layer of society, including one Portuguese king, as well as at the bottom and does so in great detail that never minces words. Much of the information about them comes from Inquisition records since that institution had jurisdiction over what was then known as the "unspeakable sin". The inquisitors did not hesitate to go into minute detail about the acts they were condemning and as a result we are given extensive and valuable information about sexual practices at the time, even including some cases of bestiality. The book has a very useful glossary and an excellent index that make it easy to use. All readers who are interested in homosexuality in history and especially in Portugal and Brazil should find this pioneering book indispensable

very interesting book
This book is an amazing look into the gay life of Portugal and Brazil over a period of almost six centuries. It ranges from "outings" of two Portuguese icons, one a king, to studies of noble homosexuality as well as that of ordinary folk. Brazil is not neglected and Mott and Vainfas's contributions cover that nation well. Notable also is Johnson's "outing" of Prince Henry the Navigator, a masterly piece of historical detective work. The collection also contains unique translations of three superb studies by Luiz Mott, and overall is a really valuable contribution to understanding the gay life in Portuguese speaking countries. Highly recommended to all those interested in the social history of Portugal and Brazil.

Essential reading for history courses
This volume that includes important but never before translated studies by Portuguese and Brazilian scholars should prove essential reading material for all courses in Portuguese and Brazilian history. ... Read more

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Capoeira, a Brazilian battle dance and national sport, has become popular all over the world. First brought to Brazil by African slaves and first documented in the late eighteenth century, capoeira has undergone many transformations as it has diffused throughout Brazilian society and beyond, taking on a multiplicity of meanings for those who participate in it and for the societies in which it is practiced. In this book, Maya Talmon-Chvaicer combines cultural history with anthropological research to offer an in-depth study of the development and meaning of capoeira, starting with the African cultures in which it originated and continuing up to the present day. Using a wealth of primary sources, Talmon-Chvaicer analyzes the outlooks on life, symbols, and rituals of the three major cultures that inspired capoeira--the Congolese (the historic area known today as Congo-Angola), the Yoruban, and the Catholic Portuguese cultures. As she traces the evolution of capoeira through successive historical eras, Talmon-Chvaicer maintains a dual perspective, depicting capoeira as it was experienced, observed, and understood by both Europeans and Africans, as well as by their descendants. This dual perspective uncovers many covert aspects of capoeira that have been repressed by the dominant Brazilian culture. This rich study reclaims the African origins and meanings of capoeira, while also acknowledging the many ways in which Catholic-Christian culture has contributed to it. The book will be fascinating reading not only for scholars but also for capoeira participants who may not know the deeper spiritual meanings of the customs, amulets, and rituals of this jogo da vida, "game of life." ... Read more

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Capoeira weaves fighting, music, dance, prayer, and ritual into an urgent strategy by which people live, struggle, celebrate, and survive together. In this book Bira Almeida--or Mestre Acordeon as he is respectfully called in capoeira circles--documents his own tradition with both the panoramic eye of the historian and the passionate heart of the capoeirista. He transports the reader from the damn of New World history in Brazil to the streets of twentieth-century Bahia (the spiritual home of capoeira) to the giant urban centers of North America (wher capoeira is now spreading in new lineages from the old masters). This book is valuable for anyone interested in ethnocultural traditions, martial arts, and music, as well as for those who want to listen to the words of an actual mestre dedicated to preserving his Afro-Brazilian legacy. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Fascinating
Whether you're just thinking about getting into capoeira, or you've been in it for a while and would like to learn more about the culture of capoeira, this book is great. This book helps the reader to understand the "insides" of the art.

Amazing Capoeira Book
Amazing book, absolutely amazing.It is not for the person wanting to learn how to do capoeira, but for anyone, beginner or master, who wants to read a great history and personal journey.
It even travels into the spiritual, deeper significance of capoeira.
GREAT BOOK.

It's okay but you could do better
This book is just an "okay" introductory text on capoeira. A major draw back is the centeral focus on capoeira regional, a better text would be "Ring of Liberation" because it more comprehensivly covers capoeira.

Remains an Excellent Introduction to Capoeira
Mestre Acordeon's book has long been praised for its clear writing, for his thoughtful coverage of the history, philosophy, and artistic traditions surrounding this art-form.Other reviewers (see below) have noted that the book was among the first in English to introduce readers to these aspects of Capoeira, while also offering a glimpse into this one mestre's personal and life-long journey.Having assigned his book to students (both graduate and undergraduate alike), I have had ample opportunity to hear students' glowing reviews: most of these students had never heard of Capoeira, nor even seen it played, before having read his work.In retrospect, they (and I, too) consider this book an excellent way to delve into the topic.While there's recently been a flurry of new scholarship on Capoeira (at least 3 books in English have come out in 2005) that matches Capoeira's growing influence around the globe, Acordeon's book remains one of the best places to start one's exploration.Axe ASCAB!

100% Capoeira
Mestre Acordeon takes you on a journey through capoeira, sharing his experiences and inviting the reader to use his imagination.
A truely inspirational piece from a truely inspirational master. ... Read more

Product Description
Webster's bibliographic and event-based timelines are comprehensive in scope, covering virtually all topics, geographic locations and people. They do so from a linguistic point of view, and in the case of this book, the focus is on "Brazilian," including when used in literature (e.g. all authors that might have Brazilian in their name). As such, this book represents the largest compilation of timeline events associated with Brazilian when it is used in proper noun form. Webster's timelines cover bibliographic citations, patented inventions, as well as non-conventional and alternative meanings which capture ambiguities in usage. These furthermore cover all parts of speech (possessive, institutional usage, geographic usage) and contexts, including pop culture, the arts, social sciences (linguistics, history, geography, economics, sociology, political science), business, computer science, literature, law, medicine, psychology, mathematics, chemistry, physics, biology and other physical sciences. This "data dump" results in a comprehensive set of entries for a bibliographic and/or event-based timeline on the proper name Brazilian, since editorial decisions to include or exclude events is purely a linguistic process. The resulting entries are used under license or with permission, used under "fair use" conditions, used in agreement with the original authors, or are in the public domain. ... Read more

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Afro-Brazilian. History of Brazil, Religion in Brazil, Capoeira, Music of Brazil, Macumba, Umbanda, Brazilian cuisine, List of Brazilians of Black African descent, Chica da Silva (person) ... Read more

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Report on the excavation of two sites in the Ouzel Valley; both were settled in the Iron Age and the Saxon period. Though only a couple of miles apart, they are on different subsoils and have different settlement histories. The Pennyland site is the largest early/middle Saxon site to have been excavated in the region; the report provides a full account of the sunken huts and halls and other features as well as of the pottery and artefacts. ... Read more

Product Description
Webster's bibliographic and event-based timelines are comprehensive in scope, covering virtually all topics, geographic locations and people. They do so from a linguistic point of view, and in the case of this book, the focus is on "Brazilian," including when used in literature (e.g. all authors that might have Brazilian in their name). As such, this book represents the largest compilation of timeline events associated with Brazilian when it is used in proper noun form. Webster's timelines cover bibliographic citations, patented inventions, as well as non-conventional and alternative meanings which capture ambiguities in usage. These furthermore cover all parts of speech (possessive, institutional usage, geographic usage) and contexts, including pop culture, the arts, social sciences (linguistics, history, geography, economics, sociology, political science), business, computer science, literature, law, medicine, psychology, mathematics, chemistry, physics, biology and other physical sciences. This "data dump" results in a comprehensive set of entries for a bibliographic and/or event-based timeline on the proper name Brazilian, since editorial decisions to include or exclude events is purely a linguistic process. The resulting entries are used under license or with permission, used under "fair use" conditions, used in agreement with the original authors, or are in the public domain. ... Read more

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The period 1930-1945 was one of huge social change in Brazil, with the introduction of industrialisation under the authoritarian regime of Getulio Vargas. In this book, Lisa Shaw examines the impact of political, social and cultural developments on the nation's most popular musical form, samba. She looks at the way songs were written, the lifestyles and social positions of the composers (sambistas) and their relationship to political and commercial power structures. Samba lyrics are unique historical documents and by studying them we can obtain a clear picture of samba's shifting status as it developed from being the music of working-class blacks and was appropriated by mainstream middle-class culture. The final chapters of the book focus on the lyrics of three influential sambistas: Ataulfo Alves, Ari Barroso and Noel Rosa and look at the manner in which their songs both comply with and flout tradition and authority. ... Read more

Product Description
Webster's bibliographic and event-based timelines are comprehensive in scope, covering virtually all topics, geographic locations and people. They do so from a linguistic point of view, and in the case of this book, the focus is on "Brazilian," including when used in literature (e.g. all authors that might have Brazilian in their name). As such, this book represents the largest compilation of timeline events associated with Brazilian when it is used in proper noun form. Webster's timelines cover bibliographic citations, patented inventions, as well as non-conventional and alternative meanings which capture ambiguities in usage. These furthermore cover all parts of speech (possessive, institutional usage, geographic usage) and contexts, including pop culture, the arts, social sciences (linguistics, history, geography, economics, sociology, political science), business, computer science, literature, law, medicine, psychology, mathematics, chemistry, physics, biology and other physical sciences. This "data dump" results in a comprehensive set of entries for a bibliographic and/or event-based timeline on the proper name Brazilian, since editorial decisions to include or exclude events is purely a linguistic process. The resulting entries are used under license or with permission, used under "fair use" conditions, used in agreement with the original authors, or are in the public domain. ... Read more

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This volume in the Brazilian Studies in the Philososophy and History of Science is the first attempt to present to a general audience some works which have been done in Brazil on ths subject. The included papers are original, reaching a remarkable number of relevant topics of philosophy of science, logic and on the history of science. The Brazilian community has increased in the last years in quantity and in quality of the works, most of them being published in respectable international journals on the subject. There is an informal but general among the philosophers and historians of science that the works must be of high quality, and we hope this volume may contribute to widespread this idea.

The chapters of this volume are forwarded by a general introduction, which aims at to sketch not only the contents of the chapters, but it is conceived as a historical and conceptual guide about the development of field, as developed in Brazil. The introduction intends to be be very useful to the interestes readers, and not only to the specialists helping them to evaluate the production of this country that it is raising up in the international context.

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This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more