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Portugal is evolving quickly as an integrated part of modern Europe. What was until the mid-1970s an old-world society, where 80 percent of the economy was controlled by an oligarchy of eight elite families, is now increasingly a model of an advanced European state. Portugal now ranks highly among the countries of the world in level of globalization and quality of life; it even boasts one of the best-developed renewable energy infrastructures of any developed country.

Despite such widespread modernization, however, "old country" Portuguese traditions persist in the political realms, as well as the traditional lifestyles that endure in the countryside. Culture and Customs of Portugal devotes careful attention to such topics as Portuguese holidays, media, marriage, gender roles, architecture, and education, providing readers with a full account of Portugal's rich heritage and modern culture. The drastic changes in the nation following the 1974 military coup that overthrew a 48-year dictatorship receive special attention.

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A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette in Portugal

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This book present san introduction to the evolution of Portuguese politics, society and culture in the twentieth century. Eminent historians, political scientists and experts in literature and art, explore a wide spectrum of topics: international relations, authoritarianism, and transition to democracy, social change, economic development, colonialism and decolonization, patterns of emigration, problems of national identity, and the main trends of twentieth century Portuguese literature and art.

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When José Saramago decided to write a book about Portugal, his only desire was that it be unlike all other books on the subject, and in this he has certainly succeeded. Recording the events and observations of a journey across the length and breadth of the country he loves dearly, Saramago brings Portugal to life as only a writer of his brilliance can. Forfeiting the usual sources such as tourist guides and road maps, he scours the country with the eyes and ears of an observer fascinated by the ancient myths and history of his people. Whether it be an inaccessible medieval fortress set on a cliff, a wayside chapel thick with cobwebs, or a grand mansion in the city, the extraordinary places of this land come alive.
Always meticulously attentive to those elements of ancient Portugal that persist today, he examines the country in its current period of rapid transition and growth. Journey to Portugal is an ode to a country and its rich traditions.
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Customer Reviews (10)

This book could be more, but it failed.
I picked up, Journey to Portugal, excited to find hidden treasures from Jose Saramango's expertise on his native soil, instead it was a flop.

My expectations were high because Portugal has such a rich history of intrigue within its borders. Instead Saramango's reference to its Jewish and Moorish past was nonexistent. This is shocking knowing that he has won a Nobel Prize in literature. Yet the past in which Portugal was framed like its other Iberian neighbor was purposefully withheld?

A man of letters such as Saramango must realize that this past, as dark as it might be, should be addressed. Instead only a few lines were devoted to its Jewish and Moorish heritage as if to say, "ah, they(the Jews and Moors) did not make a big difference here"

Mr. Saramango, this is what makes Portugal what it is, your dark past, surely you of all men should know that.

You should know that the Inquisition, persecuted men as yourself, men of letters, who were associated with Judaism! Men who escaped their past by becoming adroit at wielding letters, instead of swords. Where is your honra Senor?

In my humble estimation this book is as worthless as rags.

NOT Bill Bryson
This is Jose Saramago's spiritual journey through (primarily rural) Portugal.It's not a light-reading travel narrative.The feeling of this book is something of a cross between Henry Adams and James Michener.It's a book to read slowly and savor, in order to appreciate Saramago's tremendous metaphorical skill.He paints the picture slowly, with deliberate brush-strokes that reveal the masterpiece when viewed from a distance.

Yes, his descriptions of churches, winding roads, rain and his seemingly unconscious cultural insecurity (his came from a poor family and was not a university graduate) can become tedious, but that's only if you don't grasp the larger picture:Portugal is a settled land with hundreds of years of historic layers.Saramago wants to peel those layers back for you to expose the core.Only the reader can decide if he's been successful.

A spiritual and spatial journey
I eventually struggled through to the end of "Journey to Portugal", more as a duty than a pleasure.After the first third, the sameness of the descriptions of churches, buildings and art works became a bit boring.

Sarmago certainly writes with insights that would resonate with readers who are familiar with the history, culture and art works of Portugal.I am not, so many of Saramago's allusions and comments on the churches and buildings he saw were opaque to me.

Having read (and reviewed) "Seeing", "Blindness" and "The Cave" by Saramago, I was a little disappointed at first with "Journey to Portugal".However, my disappointment was relieved by beautiful passages sprinkled through the text.

Saramago was born in Portugal and won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1998."Journey to Portugal" is nominally a travel book, but of a special kind: it describes spiritual as well as spatial journeys.

The book is written in the third person, with Saramago referring to himself throughout as "the traveller".

Reflective travellers will understand when Sarmago says "...when the street descends once more to the old cathedral so does the rain; it overflows the gutters and, as one idea follows another, the traveller remembers how the waters of the Minho ran down the hard shoulders beside the street, how small the world is, all its memories jumbled together in the minimal space inside the traveller's head."

He also gives beautiful little word pictures of the lives and people he encountered on his journey.These are the real gems in this book, and why it is worth reading.

In one especially memorable story ("The Man Who Could Not Forget") Saramago gets into conversation with the waiter at dinner about his travel plans and learns that the waiter was born in Cidadelhe, one of the small, remote villages Saramago plans to visit.

Many years ago, when the waiter was a child, his sick young sister died on the way to get medical help, because none was available in their impoverished village.The waiter has never forgotten this family tragedy.His emotions are still raw as he talks to Saramago, who asks the waiter to come with him to the village and show him where he lived.

Saramago concludes thus: "The traveller returns to his room.He spreads out his big map on the bed and looks for Pinhel.There it is, and the road which heads off into the hills.At some point in this space a seven-year-old girl died; then the traveller finds Cidadelhe, on the heights, between the Rivers Coa and Massueime, it really is at the ends of the earth, the end of life.If there is no one to remember."

The book resonated with me for another reason.To quote Saramago:"The traveller preferred to admire the late afternoon gazing down towards the River Torto . . . . and then spent a long while leaning back against a wall . . . because from behind it there wafted the most exquisite perfume of flowers . . ."

Far too often in our travels we are driven onwards by an inexorable schedule that allows little time to stop and actually enjoy moments such as Saramago describes.

A Reflective Journey, Thoughtful and Passionate
Understandably, this book will be difficult reading for many American readers.It is not filled with action, sex, violence, or touristic visions.It is neither efficient nor pragmatic.Nevertheless, Jose Saramago is a Nobel Prize Winner for good reason.He writes with a depth of feeling and intense love that cannot be missed.The translation loses, as most translations do, the poetic passions of the author.However, if one can accept a very different style of writing, one that is decidedly not British nor American, this work will indeed be a journey.

Journey to Portugal Review
I am reading this book and am laboring through it hoping it will get to something interesting or useful because I am planning on traveling through Portugal later this year.So far it has been very boring.I don't get a great insight of Portugal's history or culture. It is mostly a travelogue of his town by town personal encounter with little to relate. So far its been very disappointing and I feel like its a waste of time. ... Read more

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Culture Smart! provides essential information on attitudes, beliefs and behavior in different countries, ensuring that you arrive at your destination aware of basic manners, common courtesies, and sensitive issues. These concise guides tell you what to expect, how to behave, and how to establish a rapport with your hosts. This inside knowledge will enable you to steer clear of embarrassing gaffes and mistakes, feel confident in unfamiliar situations, and develop trust, friendships, and successful business relationships.

Culture Smart! offers illuminating insights into the culture and society of a particular country. It will help you to turn your visit-whether on business or for pleasure-into a memorable and enriching experience. Contents include


* customs, values, and traditions
* historical, religious, and political background
* life at home
* leisure, social, and cultural life
* eating and drinking
* do's, don'ts, and taboos
* business practices
* communication, spoken and unspoken


"Culture Smart has come to the rescue of hapless travellers." Sunday Times Travel

"... the perfect introduction to the weird, wonderful and downright odd quirks and customs of various countries." Global Travel

"...full of fascinating-as well as common-sense-tips to help you avoid embarrassing faux pas." Observer

"...as useful as they are entertaining." Easyjet Magazine

"...offer glimpses into the psyche of a faraway world." New York Times
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Customer Reviews (1)

Don't tell a soul.
Whatever you do, don't buy this book or recommend it to others!
It is so beautifully written and so hauntingly tempting that Portugal, one of the best kept secrets of the Culture Smart tourist, might just be over-run by the masses if news of this book leaks out. Sandy Guedes De Queiroz is more than your average travel writer. Besides capturing the sights, sounds, feelings, aromas and flavors of this beguiling country as she goes along, she takes the reader beneath the skin to it's streets, cafes, countryside and beaches in a way that has you aching to go back: even if you've never been there in the first place!
So, whatever you do, don't tell a soul. Keep it to yourself. ... Read more

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Prior to 1492, Jews had flourished on the Iberian Peninsula for hundreds of years. Marked by alternating cooperative coexistence and selective persecution alongside Christians and Muslims, this remarkable period was a golden age for Iberian Jews, with significant and culturally diverse advances in sciences, arts and government. This work traces the history of the Sephardic Jews from their golden age to their post-Columbian diaspora. It highlights achievements in science, medicine, philosophy, arts, economy and government, alongside a few less noble accomplishments, in both the land they left behind and in the lands they settled later. Several significant Sephardic Jews are profiled in detail, and later chapters explore the increasing restrictions on Jews prior to expulsion, the divergent fates of two diaspora communities (in Brazil and the Ottoman Empire), and the enduring legacy of Sephardic history. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Telling the story of Sephardic Portuguese and Spanish Jews
This is a good reference book to read if you want to know the history of the Sephardic people of the Iberia Peninsula. It tells the story in a confortable way. A story told like a conversation between the generations and lifetime. Its an excellent read for people either studying the period, their joys and trauma, the consequences, the diaspora. I like the process- the explanations, the translations, the maps. It helps the reader having the visual to follow the complexities of life during that era. The account of the most famous people of that period, with information I had never read before. She also explains the daily life, even the games children played. The history and life of the Portuguese and Spanish Jews. The great troubles of the inqusition period. Up to, during and afterwards.Very informing. I also like the poetic way in which she uses the titles of the chapters, eg: Chapter Six - "Thou preparest the table before me" etc, and the way it ends.
The poem written by Judah Abravanel to his kidnapped son. Real life stories. Real people, Troubled times. Very nicely done. ... Read more

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The 750 A-Z entries in this new work cover the cultural and political developments throughout Spain, including the culture of Catalonia, Galicia and the Basque country. Coverage spans from the end of the Civil War in 1939 to the present day, with emphasis on the changes made since the demise of the Franco dictatorship in 1975. The Encyclopedia of Contemporary Spanish Culture is an invaluable resource for students of Spanish or European studies, professionals working in overseas and "hispanophiles" at all levels. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (1)

Great book, even for a Portuguese speaker
Even though I am familiar with Portuguese, as a Brazilian expatriate in the USA, I found this book to be very useful. It highlights the cultural characteristics of the Portuguese people in a very concise and poignant way, and provides valuable insights into the culture, customs and mentality of the Portuguese people. This book is a great resource for anyone traveling, studying or even just traveling in Portugal, and should be on the reading list for anyone visiting Portugal. ... Read more

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A Story in Stones explores the relationship between Portugal and Ethiopia during the 16th and 17th centuries from a unique perspective. Through historical research and many years of fieldwork J.J. Hespeler-Boultbee reveals Portugal's early Renaissance contact within the Ethiopian Highlands using a description of contemporary architectural vestige. What started as a mission of exploration and discovery for the Christian kingdom of the great Emperor Prester John and Portugal's search for an ally against Islamic forces developed into diplomatic, military, religious, cultural and most long lasting of all, architectural ties between Portugal and Ethiopia. This great search started with the overland route of Portuguese explorer Pêro da Covilhã that led him to the Ethiopian Highlands in 1493, thirty-seven years before Portugal's diplomatic embassy mission of 1520.

The story within the stones can still be seen in the ancient Portuguese and Gondarine ruins which are still of great influence in today's architectural design in this region. J.J. Hespeler-Boultbee explores over thirty different sites within the Highlands, many of which are remote and rarely visited. Fully illustrated with colour photos and drawings.

Review:
"We are deeply indebted to Jeremy Hespeler-Boultbee... for his initiative in studying Portuguese, Portuguese-Indian or Ethio-Portuguese buildings in Ethiopia, and thus opening an entirely new field of Ethio-Portuguese studies."
- Richard Pankhurst, Institute of Ethiopian Studies, Addis Ababa University

About the Author:
J.J. Hespeler-Boultbee is an Art & Architectural Historian and Associate of the Institute of Ethiopian Studies, Addis Ababa University.Having worked in Portugal as a lecturer at the University of Lisbon, an associate for CIDEHUS, the research and development organization at the University of Évora and as a Master Builder and Stonemason restoring old and traditional houses for over twelve years, he is uniquely qualified in this field of research. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Important Historical/Artistic Overview
While there are an increasing number of volumes, works, and articles in the press regarding Eastern/Western exchange for Asia and the Americas as well, there is precious little on this topic - other than works dealing with the slave trade. Portugal's influence - and here we are talking about Catholic and Jesuit influence as well - is an important but little know chapter in Africa's religious and artistic history.
Because there is so little on this topic I am quite pleased with the work. However, a hard back edition would be better, in my opinion, as well as a great use of color photos instead of B/W imagery. Also a few articles dealing in greater depth with the artistic nuances and historical details would be useful. There is a lot of explanation of the various sites but the work needs something more to pull it more effectively together - in my opinion. Still a very good and useable work.

Father Joseph Lea ... Read more

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Why is a cockerel a national icon? What's the connection between Estoril and James Bond? How much port is there in Portugal? Where and why do people hit each other on the head with giant leeks? This book answers these questions, and many more, in a concise and lively overview of Portugal: the country, its language, its people, their way of life and culture and what makes them tick. If you are studying for examinations which require a knowledge of the background of Portugal and its civilization, or if you are learning the language, in, for example, an evening class and want to know more about the country and how it works, this is the book for you. If your job involves travel and business relations, it aims to provide useful and practical information about the ways and customs of the people you are working with. Or if you simply have an interest in Portugal for whatever reason, it should broaden your knowledge about the country and its inhabitants. The book is divided into three sections.Chapters one and two deal with the forces - historical, geographical, geological, demographical and linguistic - that have brought about the formation of the country we know as Portugal and the language we know as Portuguese. Chapters three to seven deal with the wealth of creative aspects of Portuguese culture from the beginnings to modern day. These chapters take a look at the main areas or works of literature, art and architecture, music, traditions and festivals, science and technology, fashion, and food and drink, together with the people who have created and are still creating them. The remaining chapters deal with aspects of contemporary Portuguese society and the practicalitites of living in modern-day Portugal - the way the political structure of the country is organized, education, the environment, the workplace and how people spend thier leisure time. The final chapter looks at the country's relations with the wider world, and takes a glance at the future. Each chapter ends with a section entitled "Taking it Further", where you should find useful addresses, websites and things to see and do.Each chapter also contains a list of useful words and phrases which should help you to talk or write about the subject in question. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

It made me look a fool
This book makes wild statements about Portugal which I came to find out are not always accurate if true at all. On a visit to Portugal I sought to impress quoting bits of information I had found in this book. Most of the time the Portuguese did not know what I was talking about. The most embarassing was the episode over the cockerel. This book makes a big thing of a cockerel that is a national icon. There is no such thing, I found out the hard way. The said cockerel is a figure from a medieval legend from northern Portugal and is given and sold to foreigners as a colourful souvenir. Nationally it is associated with tourism. From that to being a national icon there is a long way, a non-existing one. The complacent smile of the nationals left me rather humiliated. This book made me look a fool. ... Read more

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The Culture Smart! titles are not your basic travel guides: they are consistently updated customs and etiquette references for more than 25 countries, with six new titles available this fall. Now more than ever, travelers are more than just sightseers and tourists; they're ambassadors making impressions of the United States wherever they go. Readers will find these to be invaluable for pointing them on their way to a safe and fun trip abroad. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (5)

MOE'S REVIEW
So far the book is good.Even though it's short plays, I can picture them on stage doing their thang.I've seen some of their work on tv and it brings back alot of memories.

Culture Clash's most memorable work to date.
(Hee, hee, hee.) Psss...t! (Hee, hee, hee.) Wanna hear somethin' funny? Culture Clash. The book presents their most memorable work to date, although the point can be easily argued (e.g., at the Japan AmericaTheatre, their wickedly hilarious, cathartic "S.O.S." followingthe mop-up of the L.A. Riots/Rebellion/African-Korean Turf Wars). "TheMission" (1988), "A Bowl of Beings" (1991), and "RadioMambo: Culture Clash Invades Miami" (1994) are the published plays.Japanese-American playwright Philip Kan Gotanda introduces the Chicanocomedy troupe--Herbert Siguenza, Ric Salinas, Richard Montoya--in a 9-pg.transcribed interview, covering the education and work experience of eachmember, group evolution, collective creation, and comedy group alliances. A4-pg. glossary of bicultural terms/refs. can be found in front. Each playis prefaced by a different member of the group. BW production photos givethe reader the illusion of watching the show in between scriptconsultations.

I haven't seen "The Mission" yet, but I'vecaught other shows and benefits they've done, enough so that I could hearC.C. talking in my head as I read through the script. Weird. LaloGuerrero's song "No Chicanos on TV" pretty much summarizes whatthis play is about and how desperate out-of-work actors can get, in thiscase kidnapping Julio Iglesias for their 15 minutes of fame. There's alsosome irreverent stuff (I didn't say irrelevant) about Father JuniperoSerra.

"A Bowl of Beings" premiered at the Los Angeles TheatreCenter in July 1991; it was the first time I saw them. I watched"Bowl" on PBS the following March and saw it yet again thatOctober at Univ. of Calif., San Diego. My favorite part of the show is"Chicano on the Storm," where Richard is stuck in a straitjacketvomiting his multicultural nightmare.

"Radio Mambo," createdfrom videotaped interviews with Miami residents, made me fall back in lovewith C.C. Their tremendous talents as performers were spotlighted as theyhad to go beyond the parameters of their usual stock characters. I caught"Mambo" at South Coast Rep's Second Stage in July 1996. Theintimate setting worked for the play. It's a show whose power is in theclose up--of the performer and the performed.

hahaha
Culture clash is a collection of 3 plays that analyzes the complexites of race relations in America.Humor is the guise which coats the deeper issues that is brought up by the trio.This book can be enjoyed innumerous levels.

If you like Culture Clash this libro is for you!
This books provides a written guide to the hilarious stage antics and dead serious social commentary of this comedy trio.Richard, Rick and Herbert have that strange ability to make you laugh out loud then make look overyour shoulder wondering whether you should.Those fortunate enough to haveexperienced Culture Clash will recognize where the improv begins and ends. This book gave me the opportunity to revist the many places these guys tookme, at my own paso.

A collection of their first three plays
"Culture Clash: Life, Death..." is not really a novel or biography of the comedy/performance group, but a collection of their first three plays "The Mission," "Bowl of Beings" and"Radio Mambo." The book also includes a relatively shortinterview with the group where they discuss their origins and anintroduction to the three plays each done by one of the members. Thatsaid, the actual plays are great. They are original, political, thoughtprovoking, hilarious. "The Mission" is about a Chicano comedygroups kidnapping of the greatest Latino entertainer Julio Iglesias."Bowl Of Beings" is a collection of sketch pieces which includes"Stand and Deliver Pizza" and "The Return of CheGuevara." "Radio Mambo," is a series of sketches done ininterview form (mostly) commisioned by the City of Miami. It thoughtfullyexamines the social complexities of the Black, Jewish, Cuban, Haitian andWhite communities of Miami The best part of Culture Clash is theirability to blend the Chicano political conciousness with humor and makingit accesible to all without "selling out."If you haven'tseen them live, think about doing so. The three plays are great, but maynot be as entertaining if you haven't seen their manic performance style. ... Read more

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This book offers a comprehensive account of modern Spanish culture from its beginnings in the Revolution of 1868 to the present day. Specially-commissioned essays by leading experts analyze the historical and political background of modern Spain, the culture of major regions including Castile, Catalonia, and the Basque Country, and the country's literature. There are studies of painting, sculpture, architecture, cinema, dance, music, and the modern media.A chronology and guides to further reading assist in making the volume an invaluable introduction to the politics, literature and culture of modern Spain. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Solid Introduction to Spanish Culture
This work is a comprehensive volume, well written, that examines the various strata of recent Spanish Culture.Unlike a previous reviewer, who seemed shocked at the notion that this work should include literature, art and music as "culture", I find it provides an adequate cross-section of various genres and media.This is not a "travel guide" or a touchy-feely "insider's guide" to Spain, but a serious scholarly introduction to the men and women who have defined Spanish culture in the 20th century.If you are looking for information on tapas, look elsewhere; if you want to know how the Spanish civil war impacted the arts, this is for you.

Not what I expected
For the purposes of this book, culture is defined as the arts, so the essays by various authors included in this book deal with literature, theater, dance, painting, etc., which could be very interesting, but not in this case.I got the impression that the essays were all examples of experts showing off how expert they are; very dry, lacking emotion, failing to inspire or excite.Too analytical, all head and no heart.For an excellent book on the modern life, living, arts, politics and all ofSpain is "The New Spaniards" by John Hooper.

BULLFIGHTING IS A CULTURAL ART
This well researched book gives readers a good overview of Spanish culture and Spanish history.

One of the many fine things about Spanish culture is BULLFIGHTING!Bullfighting is highly regarded among many peoples of southern Europe (and beyond) because it represents masculine power, virility and danger.The matador often represents the bravery that most people would like to display in the face of deadly danger.The fine art of bullfighting is really a salute to bravery.Bullfighting also is a form of pageantry.

The picador ("picker") sits on a large horse, spear in hand.His horse wears a padded cover so as to be protected from the raging bull.He impales the bull with his spear.The bandillieros then impale the bull with darts and sever the tendons in the bull's neck.The bull then runs with his head in a lower position.

The matador is the last to enter the arena.He must demonstrate his bravery by a series of cape manuevers prior to killing the bull with his sword.The more dangerously close to death the matador is, the braver he appears.The closer the bull gets to the matador and barely missing the cape, the better the bullfight.Bullfighting is really a ballet of bravery; it is a pageantry of masculine power.

People opposed to bullfighting feel it is cruel to the bull and some "experts" have described this fine sport as being sado-masochistic.The bull's demise in the arena is far less cruel and gruesome than the death he would face in a slaughterhouse.Bullfighting adds pageantry and bravery into the mix. I love a good bullfight, myself.

Matadors throughout history have been regarded as very brave men.Manolete, Joselito, Belmonte, Ordez...these are some of the men who have made the fine art of bullfighting even more so. Bullfighting is really a cultural art. ... Read more

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This volume explores the role played by culture in the transition to democracy in Latin America's Southern Cone(Argentina, Uruguay, Chile) and Spain, with a focus on opposing stances of acceptance and defiance by artists and intellectuals in post-authoritarian regimes. ... Read more

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Essays in this volume explore the popular cultural effects of rock culture on high literary production in Spain in the 1990s. ... Read more

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A fascinating and comprehensive exploration of Spain

Perfect for everyone from general readers to students to recreational or business travelers, the Teach Yourself World Cultures series explores language, history, art, politics, economics, cuisine, and much more. Each book in the series lists useful addresses, websites, and points of interest. Mixing historical information with travel tips, Teach Yourself World Cultures books are both educational and entertaining.

Teach Yourself World Cultures: Spain provides:

*A balanced and comprehensive overview of the nation--from geography to political history to the workplace environment of today
*Valuable information on the people and their customs
*Practical vocabulary and language tips for the traveler
*Recipes for common dishes of the region ... Read more

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Where was Brazil in the so-called "Latin American" literary Boom?Third World Literary Fortunes posits a response contrasting the figures of Jorge Amado, "vulgar" but uniquely successful in turning Brazilian popular energies into literature, and Joo Guimares Rosa, "Brazil's Joyce." The Brazilian establishment expected Rosa would win the Nobel Prize.Abroad Rosa remains utterly obscure. Piers Armstrong probes the gulf between the Brazilian intelligentsia's perception of the world and the world's perceptions of Brazil - in which the Brazilian elite is essentially invisible.The result is a cultural mapping of the relative power of four great rhetorical currents: literary Brazil; popular artistic expressions of identity dominated by Rio and Bahia; the representation by white social anthropologists of Brazilian popular culture as being unique by virtue of its (their) blackness; finally, the dissonance between Brazilian literature and the supposedly continental dimensions of the Spanish American writers apotheosized in the Boom as the poetic priests of Latin American alterity.

Third World Literary Fortunesintroduces the reader to the life and work of five of Brazil's greatest writers,including (apart from Rosa and Amado):the country's other "greatest" writer, the extraordinarily subtle and psychologically acute Machado de Assis, a mulatto who, though a witness to slavery completely effaced his own racial identity from his work; its best poet, Carlos Drummond de Andrade, one of the great twentieth century portraitists of urban bourgeois mediocrity; and the seminal Renaissance man of Brazilian modernism, Mrio de Andrade.The book examines their respective domestic and international receptions, discerning a clear pattern of international irrelevance with the exception of the black sheep, Jorge Amado - the only major Brazilian writer who celebrated negritude.

The enormous differences between the other writers lead Armstrong to the conclusion that the common point determining international failure is the absence of the one marketologically apt rhetoric of identity, the "Carmen Miranda syndrome" - the cultural aura of coastal and urban Afro-Brazilian and the sexual mystique of the mulatta, present in Amado's work but also in the brilliant speculative socioanthropology of Gilberto Freyre,Rio's carnaval and in the current explosion of cultural tourism to Bahia. ... Read more

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In early modern Spain, theater reached the height of its popularity during the same decades in which Spanish monarchs were striving to consolidate their power. Jodi Campbell uses the dramatic production of seventeenth-century Madrid to understand how ordinary Spaniards perceived the political developments of this period. Through a study of thirty-three plays by four of the most popular playwrights of Madrid (Pedro Caldern de la Barca, Francisco de Rojas Zorrilla, Juan de Matos Fragoso, and Juan Bautista Diamante), Campbell analyzes portrayals of kingship during what is traditionally considered to be the age of absolutism and highlights the differences between the image of kingship cultivated by the monarchy and that presented on Spanish stages. A surprising number of plays performed and published in Madrid in the seventeenth century, Campbell shows, featured themes about kingship: debates over the qualities that make a good king, tests of a king's abilities, and stories about the conflicts that could arise between the personal interests of a king and the best interest of his subjects.Rather than supporting the absolutist and centralizing policies of the monarchy, popular theater is shown here to favor the idea of reciprocal obligations between subjects and monarch. This study contributes new evidence to the trend of recent scholarship that revises our views of early modern Spanish absolutism, arguing for the significance of the perspectives of ordinary people to the realm of politics. ... Read more

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An overview of Spanish and Portuguese cinema, this volume contains 24 essays, each on a separate seminal film from the region. Films from the early era of cinema up to the present day are featured, from directors such as Florián Rey, Juan Antonio Bardem, Luis Bunuel, Víctor Erice, Manuel Gutiérrez Aragón, Pedro Almodóvar and João Cesar Monteiro. As well as discussions of genre and influences,The Cinema of Spain & Portugal includes in depth studies of films such asLa Aldita Maldita (1930, 1947),Death of a Cyclist (1955),Viridiana (1961),Spirit of the Beehive (1973),Abraham's Valley (1993),Tierra (1995),All About My Mother (1999), andTorrente (1998).