In 1888 and 1889, Brazil’s most renowned writer, Machado de Assis, wrote a series of chronicles, or essays, for the Gazeta de Noticias, published in Rio de Janeiro. This was a very exciting time to be reporting in Brazil. In 1889, slavery was abolished, and in 1889, the country ended its monarchy and adopted a republican form of government. Neither transition was easy.

Machado, respected for his stories, novels, plays, and poems, turned his critical eye on Brazilian society. The 50 chronicles in this collection–the most complete collection of them in any language–touch on everything from the national government to the foibles of Brazilian society. The writing style is unique, stretching the language from repertorial to quasi-poetic. This bilingual edition presents the original Portuguese and Ana Lessa-Schmidt’s astute English translation side by side for ease of literary and linguistic comparison. The Foreword by Greicy Pinto Bellin, an academic authority on all things Machadian, offers insight into the significance of these unique chronicles.