The 1930 Revolution, led by the states of Minas Gerais, Paraíba, and Rio Grande do Sul, culminating in the coup d'état that deposed President Washington Luís—preventing the inauguration of elected candidate Júlio Prestes and bringing Getúlio Vargas to power—was, for many historians, the most important movement in the history of 20th-century Brazil—the revolution that ended the dominance of oligarchies in the national political scene and the Old Republic. If every war is a war of versions, the 1930 Revolution is no different. In this novel about the conspiracies, facts, and causes of the movement, professor, writer, and journalist Juremir Machado da Silva gives voice to one of its soldiers, 98-year-old Gabriel d'Ávila Flores, who weaves together, with his memories, all the others. Between the intrigues of lieutenants and political strategies, Gabriel's life appears in the little things: his passion for a circus performer, his dream of joining the Porto Alegre Military College, his career in the Army. Gabriel fought alongside the legalists in 1930 against Getúlio Vargas's revolutionaries. In 1932, he joined the ranks of Getúlio Vargas's army against the São Paulo Revolutionaries. He fought, saw the Estado Novo come into power, and the return of democracy. He saw Getúlio return to power and the commotion caused by his suicide. He is the guide in an era of political upheaval. A time of almost quixotic men, overcoming obstacles only with courage and daring. Juremir Machado reveals here the revolution within the revolution. An unexpected and secret revolution. Getúlio Vargas's revolution within the 1930 Revolution. The social revolution within the conservatives' revolution. The revolution that would lead to the counterrevolution and that would go down in history. The Copacabana Fort uprising—a defeat that would trigger the victory that would come eight years later, under Getúlio Vargas's leadership—the statesman's relationship with his allies, the ideas that pleased and displeased everyone... Juremir analyzes all aspects of an episode replete with consequences for the shape of contemporary Brazil. A revolution that, in the words of its own organizers, was neither good nor bad. But indispensable and, as such, invincible.
