- Paperback: 656 pages
- Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd; New edition edition (5 Nov 1998)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 014044694X
- ISBN-13: 978-0140446944
- Product Dimensions: 19.8 x 12.9 x 2.7 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 446,498 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
The Maias (Dedalus European Classics)
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Product Description
Product Description
Eca de Queiros was Portugal's greatest nineteenth-century novelist, whose works brilliantly evoke -- and condemn -- the rapidly changing society of his times. The Maias (1888) depicts the declining fortunes of a landowning family over three generations as they are gradually undermined by hypocrisy, complacency, and sexual license. With a vivid, comprehensive portrayal of nineteenth-century Portuguese politics and social history, Eca creates a kind of comedie humaine that, despite the force of its social satire and its damning critique of the Portugal from which he had exiled himself, is a supreme work of humor and irony.
The author was a diplomat who traveled widely, and although he claimed to be an apostle of naturalist realism, he reveals with detached irony the lethargy and decadence of his native land. The book initially attracted attention through its account of an incestuous romance, yet today we can see this as just one element in a novel whose compelling story, depth of thought, and compassion make it one of Europe's great literary masterpieces.
About the Author
Eca de Queiros (1845-1900) was Portugal's greatest nineteenth-century novelist. His works brilliantly evoke, and condemn, the rapidly changing society of his time. He travelled widely as a diplomat and, though he considered himself an apostle of Naturalist Realism, he is at heart an ironist, with the severity and compassion of Stendhal.
--This text refers to an alternate
Paperback
edition.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
When I found this book in a book-swap fair in Lisbon I had no idea I would be in for such a literary treat. Margaret Jull Costa's translation is a feast in the beauty of the English language. I am dashing out to buy a Portuguese version to see how it compares, as usually I find Portuguese quite lacking when compared to English.
Dickens is the immediate comparison that springs to mind, but the story is slow paced and drawn out compared to his works and to modern novels, but because the language is so descriptive and sumptuous I quickly decided to slow down my "normal" requirements for a faster paced plot, and just enjoy the book purely for sake of reading beautiful English.
The book also contains social and political messages that ring true today, especially for those living in modern-day Lisbon. However, I must admit I'm not sure if his viewpoint of the duality of the morality expected of either sex was supposed to be tongue-in-cheek or not. Certainly that view expressed in the book was common-place at the time but it raised a few prickles on the back of my neck when I was reading certain passages. The men are almost expected to have affairs with married women, but if the women get caught, if is their shameful ways and fault. The way poor Maria Eduarda is judged when Carlos finds out about her unfortunate past in Paris and England, he is horrified and revolted at first, although he himself was practically two-timing her (with another married woman) at the start of their relationship!! Love wins through though at this point and although the end was hardly a surprise I hated finishing this book. The characters were all fond friends - I shall read this book again! Am starting the Crime of Father Amaro, also translated by MJC, today!
Dickens is the immediate comparison that springs to mind, but the story is slow paced and drawn out compared to his works and to modern novels, but because the language is so descriptive and sumptuous I quickly decided to slow down my "normal" requirements for a faster paced plot, and just enjoy the book purely for sake of reading beautiful English.
The book also contains social and political messages that ring true today, especially for those living in modern-day Lisbon. However, I must admit I'm not sure if his viewpoint of the duality of the morality expected of either sex was supposed to be tongue-in-cheek or not. Certainly that view expressed in the book was common-place at the time but it raised a few prickles on the back of my neck when I was reading certain passages. The men are almost expected to have affairs with married women, but if the women get caught, if is their shameful ways and fault. The way poor Maria Eduarda is judged when Carlos finds out about her unfortunate past in Paris and England, he is horrified and revolted at first, although he himself was practically two-timing her (with another married woman) at the start of their relationship!! Love wins through though at this point and although the end was hardly a surprise I hated finishing this book. The characters were all fond friends - I shall read this book again! Am starting the Crime of Father Amaro, also translated by MJC, today!
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I had to read this book for secondary school, but by that time I had already read it twice as my sisters were older! At the time I loved the "realness" and the beautiful writing of Eca de Queiros. The descriptions in the book are so vivid that I lost myself in it countless times. Being portuguese it is the novel that reflects the sentiment of the diletant so ingrained in the culture. It has so much whithin it's pages, my favourite bits are: life as a young person, the perspectives of all the characters, and they are markedly different from each other. I adore Afonso the grandfather. He is simply a good man with great strenght. My favourite has to be Ega he is devilish but loyal, taking as much advantage of the portuguese way of life as possible only to sucomb to superficiality of the "in" crowd of the time. Most of what is written still feels very recent and true. It is very much like Middlemarch (G.Elliot) in the way it depicts the essence of a country which still reaches out to everyone. Very biased i'm afraid but this is certainly one of the best books I've read, and read, and read... (LOST COUNT ACTUALLY) A MUST
14 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Os Maias, by Eca de Queiros, is the intense saga of the Maias, a very wealthy family, in a decadent period of portuguese history and through several generations. The novel focuses, through this setting, on the inevitability of fate; it also uses the family to send a tough criticism to society at the time of writing and contains in it a warning and a lesson for us today. Eca de Queiros has artfully strung together the various social issues that pervaded (and pervade) society, not least of which is the futile and decadent lifestyle led by the extremely rich, and how empty it all turns out to be in the end. This book is definitely worth reading, but requires some effort, particularly for those (like me) with a short attention span. Well worth it in the end, though, particularly if you are able to read it in the original language.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Ought to Be Better Known outside Portugal
To English-speaking readers "nineteenth century European literature" (with a few exceptions, such as Ibsen) generally means "nineteenth century French and Russian literature. Read more
Published 2 months ago by J C E Hitchcock
A classic of literature
I first read it in Portuguese, my native tongue, and now in English, as I wanted to offer it as a birthday present. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Ana Da Silva
like always
liks always the product was on time in good shape and i red the book who is a real masterpiece of the worldliterature
thank you amazon you give me the oportunity to read a... Read more
thank you amazon you give me the oportunity to read a... Read more
Published 21 months ago by Frank De Crits
Greatest Portuguese writer ever!
Eca de Queiroz is definitely the best writer Portugal has ever had. Not only the stories are amazingly well written, intelligent and funny but he also manages to grab our... Read more
Published on 15 Feb 2008 by Nin
An unknown classic, worth sticking with
Eca de Queiros is like Dickens: a good storyteller who also draws attention to the social evils of his day. Read more
Published on 19 Oct 2004 by Nick Kern
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