Raduan Nassar

Brazil

Raduan Nassar, the son of Lebanese parents was born in a small town of the federal state of São Paulo in 1935. He studied Law and later Philosophy in São Paulo. Nassar, whose work has been very positively received by the critics, is claimed rightly to be one of the literary discoveries in Brazilian contemporary literature.

Raduan Nassar, whose work - though not voluminous - has been very positively received by the critics, is claimed rightly to be one of the literary discoveries in Brazilian contemporary literature.

Since his first novel Lavoura arcaica (“Archaic Land”) appeared in 1975 it has been published in different editions and has won several important prizes. Following the parable of the prodigal son, it tells the story of a younger brother who leaves his family in order to free himself, mainly from the archaic figure of his father. The intense, often biblical sounding language evokes a melancholic, austere rural life, marked by deep religious beliefs. When the son returns home, the family believes that the old harmony is restored, only to learn that the youngest son will leave forever, to experience the world, because he can no longer bear “this prison”.

Nassar’s book is a masterwork, a rare exception in a constantly levelling out literature business.

DIE ZEIT

The novella Um copo de cólera (“A Glass of Anger”) was published three years later and revised by the author in 1984. At first glance it looks like a love story. The man is the narrator, presenting himself as the master, and the woman as his mistress, who is eagre to learn. One morning a verbal battle breaks out, in which each one tries to hurt the other as much as possible. It is a game of power and helplessness and a battle aimed at subjection, a merciless reckoning with their wishes and dreams, aspirations and illusions.

These are 70 pages full of wonderfully fiery and shrieking prose, to be quaffed off, hot, in one deep draught.

FRANKFURTER RUNDSCHAU

Original editions and rights sold:

Novel:

Lavoura arcaica, Rio de Janeiro: José Olympio 1975; Nova Fronteira 1982;

São Paulo: Companhia das Letras 1989, 198 p.

Film directed by Luis Fernando Carvalho, best film at the 17^th Festival of Latinamerican Cinema in Triest (Italy) 2002

English translation available

Croatia: Fraktura ● France: Gallimard 1985, 2004 ● Germany: Suhrkamp 2004 ● Spain: Suma de Letras 2005 (avail.)

Um copo de cólera, São Paulo: Cultura 1978; Brasiliense 1984; 1987;

Companhia das Letras 1992, 85 p.

Film directed by Aloísio Abranches

France: Gallimard 1985, 2004 ● Germany: Suhrkamp 1991 ● Italy: Einaudi 2002 ● Portugal: Relógio d’Agua 1999

Menina a caminho, São Paulo: Companhia das Letras 1997, 85 p.

France: Gallimard 2005 ● Portugal: Cotovia 2000