Jorge Amado

Jorge Amado was a renowned Brazilian writer, born on August 10, 1912, in the state of Bahia. He was one of the most famous and translated Brazilian authors of the 20th century. Amado's works reflect the culture, social issues, and the everyday life of Brazilians, particularly those from his home state of Bahia. His novels often dealt with themes such as poverty, racial discrimination, and class struggle. Some of his best-known works include 'Gabriela, Clove and Cinnamon', 'Dona Flor and Her Two Husbands', and 'The Violent Land'. He was also an active member of the Brazilian Communist Party and was elected to the Brazilian Academy of Letters in 1961. Jorge Amado passed away on August 6, 2001.

Books

This list of books are ONLY the books that have been ranked on the lists that are aggregated on this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all books by this author.

  1. 1. Gabriela, Clove and Cinnamon

    Set in the 1920s in the Brazilian town of Ilhéus, the novel tells the story of a beautiful and charismatic migrant worker, Gabriela, who becomes a cook in the home of a wealthy bar owner. As the town, historically dominated by a few wealthy cacao planters, undergoes economic and social changes, Gabriela and her employer fall in love. Their relationship, however, is challenged by their different social statuses, the town's traditional values, and the employer's political ambitions. The story is a vivid portrayal of Brazilian culture, exploring themes of race, gender, class, and tradition versus progress.

    The 2435th Greatest Book of All Time
  2. 2. Tent of Miracles

    "Tent of Miracles" is a satirical novel that explores the themes of racism, colonialism, and the power of knowledge. The story revolves around the life of a poor, mixed-race Bahian scholar who is unrecognized in his own land but becomes a posthumous celebrity when a Nobel laureate praises his work. This sudden fame brings attention to his writings and his message against racial discrimination, and the book also portrays the vibrant culture and diversity of Bahia, Brazil.

    The 2435th Greatest Book of All Time
  3. 3. Dona Flor And Her Two Husbands

    In this vibrant and humorous novel, we follow the life of a young Brazilian widow, Dona Flor, who is renowned for her irresistible culinary talents and her dedication to her students at the cooking school she runs. After the untimely death of her wild, irresponsible, but passionately loved first husband, she eventually remarries a man who is the polar opposite: kind, considerate, and utterly devoted, yet lacking the fiery passion of her first spouse. Her life takes an unexpected turn when her first husband's ghost returns, leading to a peculiar and comedic arrangement where she finds herself juggling the affections and demands of both her deceased and living husbands, challenging her notions of love, marriage, and fidelity in a tale that celebrates the complexity of human relationships and the cultural tapestry of Brazilian society.

    The 4622nd Greatest Book of All Time