Overview

This book explores the role of science in the short stories of Machado de Assis, focusing on works such as ‘O Alienista’ (1882), ‘A Sereníssima República’ (1882), and ‘Idéias de Canário’ (1899). It examines how Machado uses scientific theories as literary and sociological devices to critique modern state institutions, including hospitals, prisons and government-sponsored medical projects. His scepticism extends to the liberal and politically independent scientific discourse of late nineteenth-century Brazil, a period of profound political, economic and social change. By questioning the idealized figure of the rational scientist, Machado exposes the racial and economic hierarchies upheld by the dominant intelligentsia. Madness, egocentrism and the use of fantastic elements—such as talking animals and absurd situations—engage with the ancient tradition of the fable to highlight social tensions. The result is an ethically charged poetics of unreason, shaped by an ironic scepticism toward Romantic nationalism, literary naturalism, and scientific positivism, particularly in relation to race, gender, class, and nationality. Perfect for scholars of literature, history, and cultural studies, this book reinterprets Machado de Assis as a radical thinker whose fiction offers a penetrating critique of race, gender and class in the making of modern Brazil. It can also serve as an initial study for many interdisciplinary interpretations of his work, opening new perspectives on his engagement with science and politics.

Full Product Details

9781836245414

Table of Contents

Reviews

“The examinations delve deeply into the texts and provide original insights. I think of myself as an expert on Machado’s shorter fiction, and confess that I found many valid points that I had not considered before.” – Professor Paul Dixon, College of Liberal Arts, Purdue University “Scholarly monographs in English on just Machado’s short stories are very much needed, and this one sets an important precedent and high bar.” – Dr Daniel F. Silva, Associate Professor of Luso-Hispanic Studies, Middlebury College

Author Information

Viviane Carvalho da Annunciação is a Teaching and Research Associate at the University of Cambridge, specialising in Lusophone studies with an interest in nineteenth-century Brazil and Machado de Assis.

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