Old House Relics (Relíquias de Casa Velha) is the last collection of short stories that Machado de Assis published, in 1906. Machado himself chose the stories, written over the entire span of his literary career. All of them feature characters from 19th century Rio de Janeiro, back then the capital of the Empire of Brazil; they offer an interesting view of those times through the satirical lens and sharp words of the foremost Brazilian writer of his generation. The collection opens with "To Carolina", the only poem of the book, considered by Manoel Bandeira one of the most touching pieces of Brazilian literature. While most stories are immersed in social or political criticism, such as "Father against Mother" and "Smear Yourself Fat!", Machado's focus has always been the complex psychological turns of the human mind and soul. His protagonists are imperfect, completely biased; their aims are mundane or even vile. Using such commonplace material, Machado explores human desires and fears, crafting believable characters and curious tales.
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Joaquim Maria Machado de Assis (1839 - 1908) was a Brazilian writer and poet, widely regarded as one of the greatest literary figures in the Portuguese language. He was born in Rio de Janeiro to a mixed-race family of modest means, and received a classical education at the Colégio São Bento. Despite facing discrimination and limited opportunities due to his race and social class, Machado de Assis persevered and became a successful author, publishing numerous novels, short stories, and poems over the course of his career.
Machado de Assis is best known for his novels, which blend elements of realism, satire, and the absurd to explore themes of identity, social justice, and the human condition. His works often feature complex, multilayered characters and narrative structures, and have been widely translated and adapted into other languages.
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Table of contents
- Warning
- To Carolina
- Father against Mother
- Maria Cora
- Chapter One
- Chapter II
- Chapter III
- Chapter IV
- Chapter V
- Chapter VI
- Funeral March
- A Captain of Volunteers
- Smear Yourself Fat!
- Vacations
- Evolution
- Pylades and Orestes
- The Anecdote of the Cabriolet
- Machado de Assis
- Templo Livros
