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Inaugural novel of romanticism in Brazil in paperback edition.
Originally published in 1844, A Moreninha narrates the daily lives of three young friends—Augusto, Filipe, and Leopoldo—who make a bet during a vacation on a small island. Augusto, considered fickle and inconstant, is captivated by all the young women. He plans to write a novel if he can fall in love by the end of the trip. During his stay, he meets D. Carolina, whom he calls "Moreninha," and is enchanted by her, but refuses to let herself get involved, lest she break a promise of fidelity made to a girl he barely remembers. But the young woman will win him over, and the vacation on the island will bring many surprises.
A Moreninha is considered the first truly Brazilian novel because it portrays the customs of 20th-century Rio de Janeiro society and the habits of the bourgeoisie of the time. Joaquim Manuel de Macedo brought together in this work the elements typical of novels of the time, which were published in serial form: the difficult or impossible relationship, the comedy, the uncertainty between desire and duty, the surprising revelation of identity, and the colloquial language. All these elements contribute to making A Moreninha an essential work for understanding the Brazilian literary scene.
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