Machado de Assis
Summary
Host Misha Glenny discusses the life and literary legacy of Machado de Assis, considered Brazil’s greatest writer, with experts Ana Claudia Suriani da Silva, Claire Williams, and Viviani Carvalho da Annunciação. They explore his background as a descendant of slaves, his critique of the Brazilian elite in works like *The Posthumous Memoirs of Brás Cubas* and *Dom Casmurro*, and his innovative narrative techniques. The episode highlights how his ironic, unreliable narrators expose social inequalities and remain relevant today.
Topics discussed
Sponsorship and introduction to Machado de Assis
Machado's background, education, and patronage
Early career, print culture, and Brazil's slavery context
Analysis of 'The Posthumous Memoirs of Brás Cubas'
Female protagonists and the unreliable narrator in 'The Hand and the Glove'
Style, elegy, and the concept of the 'dependent'
Critique of slavery, underachievement, and narrative gaps
Modern relevance, humor, and critique of positivism
Machado's legacy and global reputation
Bonus: 'The Alienist', realism, and guest recommendations
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