Just a subversive

An autobiography by one of the greatest names in Brazilian theater and television drama, " Apenas um subversivo" (Just a Subversive) by Dias Gomes recounts his political and family experiences, as well as the behind-the-scenes of his professional life. In " Apenas um subversivo" (Just a Subversive), Dias Gomes presents his family life, his relationship with politics, and his life behind the scenes in theater, radio, and television. He narrates from his time in Bahia, his hometown, his arrival in Rio de Janeiro, his time in São Paulo, and through the military dictatorship and the years that followed. Like his fictional texts, marked by humor and irony, " Apenas um subversivo" (Just a Subversive) has a lighthearted tone regarding his work, career, and life. The title was given in irony to the insult he received when his play "O cradle of the hero" (The Cradle of the Hero) was censored by Carlos Lacerda during the military dictatorship: "Nelson Rodrigues is nothing but pornographic. Dias Gomes is pornographic and subversive!" It's also a self-deprecating joke, and this ability to speak critically, even sarcastically, about himself reveals itself to be one of his greatest strengths. Dias Gomes revolutionized Brazilian theater, blending the daily lives of the working class, their dramas, and their struggles with fantastical plots. A writer of diverse characters who addressed the political and social context of the time, Dias Gomes turned his writing into powerful weapons. In "Just a Subversive," center stage, the playwright narrates his memories, almost like a diary, trying to decipher who he is. "Autobiographies are often the egocentric expression of someone who delights in self-contemplation. Many of these authors seem like sculptors dedicated to carving, with every possible and impossible touch-up, the impeccable, mythical, indisputable statue destined for posterity. Fortunately, Dias Gomes knew, with admirable skill, how to avoid these well-known traps of the autobiographical genre. Just a Subversive is an exemplary book that reshapes autobiography, subverting its conventional contours." Eduardo Portella "More than a history or memoir, Just a Subversive has the tone of a novel, in which real-life characters the author encounters are described as if they were from his plays or novels. His imagination has a 'compulsive nature,' he admits, but is always searching for a good story that leads to the truth. Nothing is more subversive." Laura Mattos