Synopsis
A wickedly funny tale of two rebellious sisters in 1940's Rio de Janeiro.
Euridice is bright and ambitious. But this is Brazil in the 1940's, and society expects her to be a loving wife and mother. While Antenor is busy congratulating himself on his excellent catch, Euridice spends her humdrum days ironing his shirts and removing the lumps of onion from his food, dreaming of the success she could have made of herself - as a writer, dressmaker or culinary whizz - in another life.
Her free-spirited sister Guida, on the other hand, is the kind of person who was 'born knowing everything'. When she returns from her failed elopement with stories of heartbreak and loss, the lives of Euridice and her husband are thrown into confusion, with disastrous consequences.
The Invisible Life of Euridice Gusmao is a darkly comic debut, bursting with vibrant Brazilian spirit and unforgettable characters - a jubilant novel about the emancipation of women.
Details
- Format : Standard 2nd Hand Paperback
- Condition : Very Good
- Category : Fiction - Humorous Fiction
- Published : 2016 (This Edition 2017 - Oneworld)
- ISBN : 9781786073372
- SKU : B002701
- PPC : LL300gm
- RRP : £8.99
- Quantity Available : 1 only.
External Reviews
"'Zesty' - Daily Mail.
'A real gem of a book' - Stylist.
'This is an extraordinary novel about the gifted and vivacious Euridice Gusmao, set in the Brazil and Rio of the 1940's through to the 1960's. Euridice is the every woman of that period, and drawn from the women from the author's family, and the stories relayed in the book are rooted in truth . . . This is a touching and moving read, packed with larger than life eccentric characters that make this a compelling novel. Euridice is a woman that you cannot help but be charmed by, and you feel for her as her dreams turn to ashes, until the return of Guida. I love the way the author has weaved the harsh historical realities of women, capturing the attitudes of the time, and their burdens. She spices it up with the regional traditions of magical realism with flair, along with the colour and vibrancy of the place and the community. An absolutely brilliant novel that I highly recommend.' - Goodreads Review.
'Humorous and exuberant, this book is a rare treat!' - Chicago Review of Books.
'Martha Batalha brings to life her many characters and the sights, smells and experiences of the world they live in with a deft, wry touch.' - Press Association.
The Author
Martha Batalha worked as a journalist and publisher for many years in her home country of Brazil. She moved to New York in 2008, where she worked in the publishing industry. “The Invisible Life of Euridice Gusmao” is her first novel. It was sold to several countries and it will soon become a major motion picture. She is currently finishing her second novel, a family saga set in Ipanema. Martha lives in Santa Monica, California, with her husband and two kids.
