Major Calabar

After a long absence from the shelves, João Felício dos Santos's work, which recreates the lives of important Brazilian figures in fictional form against the backdrop of historical events, has been revived by José Olympio. Following Xica da Silva and Carlota Joaquina – The Debauched Queen, MAJOR CALABAR is now being reissued. The story of the now highly controversial and until recently obscure Major Domingos Calabar, a mulatto from Pernambuco who deserted the Portuguese to ally with the Dutch in one of the most controversial episodes of colonial Brazil, has been given a lighthearted air and rich language in this prestigious author's historical novel. In this vibrant portrait of 17th-century Pernambuco society, João Felício dos Santos profiles the famous guerrilla fighter who abandoned the troops of Matias de Albuquerque and Felipe Camarão to join the invaders. Seen as a traitor by traditional Brazilian historiography, Calabar was actually seeking the best path to freedom and progress for his people. Nephew of renowned historian Joaquim Felício dos Santos, the author reveals himself to possess a technique for approaching truth that only fiction can provide. His narratives are always clear, fluent, and highly visual—it's no coincidence that some of his books have been adapted into films, such as Xica da Silva, adapted by Cacá Diegues into one of the most famous Brazilian films of recent decades, and Carlota Joaquina, directed by Carla Camurati, which inspired the author's work. MAJOR CALABAR is a striking example of João Felício dos Santos's visual "instinct." The invading sails against the horizon, the "open canvases, blue flags multiplying high above," the vast spaces, "a washed sky, a blazing star..." Panoramic views of Recife from the palm groves of Olinda and the constant presence of green seas guiding the invader's keels. All this, combined with the erudite handling of the language of the time, contributes to the sense of movement and dynamism that the events surrounding the Dutch invasion of Brazil necessarily require. MAJOR CALABAR is João Felício dos Santos's third book to be republished by José Olympio. Next will come the stories of Anita Garibaldi and Aleijadinho – must-read texts for a pleasurable exploration of Brazil's past.