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Tropical Sol da Liberdade
Based upon the author's own experiences of life, exile, and return under the dictatorship that gripped Brazil in the 1960s and 1970s, Freedom Sun in the Tropics follows Lena, a journalist, as she resists violence and political repression, and decides to flee to Paris. Upon her eventual return, Lena soon discovers that the dictatorship's prison walls have enclosed private lives and hold strong even after the collapse of authoritarianism. With friendship, truth, and family broken, she struggles to make the difficult return to freedom and regain a sense of life—and simple decency—on the other side of trauma. Originally published in 1988, Ana Maria Machado's novel vividly captures one of the darkest periods in recent Brazilian history.
376 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1988
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131 people want to read
About the author
Ana Maria Machado
309 books98 followersAna Maria Machado was born in 1941 in Rio de Janeiro and is, alongside Lygia Bojunga Nunes and Ruth Rocha, one of the most significant children's book authors in Brazil. She started her career as a painter in Rio de Janeiro and New York City. After studying Romance languages she did a PhD with Roland Barthes at the 'École pratique des hautes études' in Paris. She worked as journalist for the magazine 'Elle' in Paris and the BBC in London. In 1979, she opened the first children’s literature bookshop in Brazil, 'Malasartes'.
In 1969, Ana Maria Machado started to write. "I belong to that generation of writers who began to write during the military dictatorship, as children’s literature, alongside poetry and song texts, were amongst the few literary forms with which, through the poetic and symbolic use of language, you could make the ideas of a joie de vivre, individual freedom and respect for human rights known." Her story 'Menina Bonita do laço de fita' (1986) about a white and a black rabbit who marry and have a whole hoard of black, white and black and white patterned children, is a charming book about the living together of diverse ethnic groups. In 'Era uma vez um tirano' (1982) three children defy a tyrant who has forbidden colour, thoughts and any happiness. Without pointing fingers, Ana Maria Machado always dresses up her messages in humorous stories and trusts the ability of her young readers to also read between the lines.
Similar to many Brazilian children’s book authors of her generation, Ana Maria Machado stands in the tradition of the first great children’s book author, Jose Bento Monteiro Lobato (1882–1948). Her writing is marked, in the style of "magical realism", by a subtle mix of social satire and fantastic elements as well as a conscious and playful use of language and narrative structures. In 'História meio ao contrario' (1978), Ana Maria Machado turns the classic narrative structure of the fairy tale on its head and lets her story begin with: "And if they didn’t die, then they are still alive today" and end with "once upon a time".
In 'Bisa Bia, Bisa Bel' (1982), one of her central works, Isabell’s internal dialogue with her dead great-grandmother, Bisa Bia, and her own great-grandchild from the future, Bisa Bel, becomes a magical journey to the invisible connections between the generations, which finally allow Isabell to find her own way. For the author, fantasy also means to expand the sense for space and time and to allow reality and fantasy to mix with each other.
Just as brilliantly in ‘Palavra de Honra’ (2005, Engl: Word of Honour) Machado tells the story of a Luso-Brazilian family which has become very wealthy since their arrival in the 19th century. The reader encounters Letícia, who tries to reconstruct her own story out of the dispersed remains of the family legacy.
Ana Maria Machado has written more than hundred books for children and adults in 17 countries for which she has received the most significant Brazilian awards and many international honours. In 2000, she was awarded the 'Hans Christian Andersen Award' for her life work, the most significant international prize for youth and children’s literature. Ana Maria Machado lives with her family in Rio de Janeiro.
In 1969, Ana Maria Machado started to write. "I belong to that generation of writers who began to write during the military dictatorship, as children’s literature, alongside poetry and song texts, were amongst the few literary forms with which, through the poetic and symbolic use of language, you could make the ideas of a joie de vivre, individual freedom and respect for human rights known." Her story 'Menina Bonita do laço de fita' (1986) about a white and a black rabbit who marry and have a whole hoard of black, white and black and white patterned children, is a charming book about the living together of diverse ethnic groups. In 'Era uma vez um tirano' (1982) three children defy a tyrant who has forbidden colour, thoughts and any happiness. Without pointing fingers, Ana Maria Machado always dresses up her messages in humorous stories and trusts the ability of her young readers to also read between the lines.
Similar to many Brazilian children’s book authors of her generation, Ana Maria Machado stands in the tradition of the first great children’s book author, Jose Bento Monteiro Lobato (1882–1948). Her writing is marked, in the style of "magical realism", by a subtle mix of social satire and fantastic elements as well as a conscious and playful use of language and narrative structures. In 'História meio ao contrario' (1978), Ana Maria Machado turns the classic narrative structure of the fairy tale on its head and lets her story begin with: "And if they didn’t die, then they are still alive today" and end with "once upon a time".
In 'Bisa Bia, Bisa Bel' (1982), one of her central works, Isabell’s internal dialogue with her dead great-grandmother, Bisa Bia, and her own great-grandchild from the future, Bisa Bel, becomes a magical journey to the invisible connections between the generations, which finally allow Isabell to find her own way. For the author, fantasy also means to expand the sense for space and time and to allow reality and fantasy to mix with each other.
Just as brilliantly in ‘Palavra de Honra’ (2005, Engl: Word of Honour) Machado tells the story of a Luso-Brazilian family which has become very wealthy since their arrival in the 19th century. The reader encounters Letícia, who tries to reconstruct her own story out of the dispersed remains of the family legacy.
Ana Maria Machado has written more than hundred books for children and adults in 17 countries for which she has received the most significant Brazilian awards and many international honours. In 2000, she was awarded the 'Hans Christian Andersen Award' for her life work, the most significant international prize for youth and children’s literature. Ana Maria Machado lives with her family in Rio de Janeiro.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
December 31, 2018
Uma leitura que não estava em nenhuma das minhas listas ou perspectiva de leitura chega logo no finzinho do ano e sai com o título de melhor leitura do ano. Um livro mais bonito do que triste, mais poético do que documental. Quebrou todas as minhas expectativas e fechou o ano com uma surpresa deliciosa.
September 3, 2017
Já conhecia a autora pelas obras infantis, como Bisa Bia Bisa Bel, e esse foi o meu primeiro livro da literatura adulta dela. Depois que li, fiquei feliz por ter resolvido aproveitar o frete do sebo para comprar três de uma vez.
Nesse romance, a jornalista Lena vai para a casa de praia de sua mãe, em uma tentativa de reconstruir a vida depois do exílio. Seu casamento acabou e sua saúde está frágil. Ela sofre de vertigens e quedas e não consegue escrever.
Lena pensa em escrever uma peça sobre o exílio, e para isso consulta cartas antigas, notas, fotos de família, tudo que desperte recordações daqueles anos e sirva de inspiração. Ela já trabalhava como jornalista quando começou a ditadura, e ela e seus irmãos se envolveram no movimento estudantil. Pensando na sua relação com os irmãos e a mãe, ela revisita momentos como a Passeata dos Cem Mil e o sequestro do embaixador Charles Elbrick.
No livro, ela fala sobre a paranóia de não saber em quem confiar, no isolamento auto-imposto de quem sabe que pode ser presa e torturada e não quer ter o que contar, do ressentimento entre exilados, da censura, tudo em uma rara perspectiva feminina.
“Se cair, do chão não passa... Quando cresceu, descobriu que quem caísse poderia passar do chão, sim, e ser enterrado, abaixo dele”
Nesse romance, a jornalista Lena vai para a casa de praia de sua mãe, em uma tentativa de reconstruir a vida depois do exílio. Seu casamento acabou e sua saúde está frágil. Ela sofre de vertigens e quedas e não consegue escrever.
Lena pensa em escrever uma peça sobre o exílio, e para isso consulta cartas antigas, notas, fotos de família, tudo que desperte recordações daqueles anos e sirva de inspiração. Ela já trabalhava como jornalista quando começou a ditadura, e ela e seus irmãos se envolveram no movimento estudantil. Pensando na sua relação com os irmãos e a mãe, ela revisita momentos como a Passeata dos Cem Mil e o sequestro do embaixador Charles Elbrick.
No livro, ela fala sobre a paranóia de não saber em quem confiar, no isolamento auto-imposto de quem sabe que pode ser presa e torturada e não quer ter o que contar, do ressentimento entre exilados, da censura, tudo em uma rara perspectiva feminina.
“Se cair, do chão não passa... Quando cresceu, descobriu que quem caísse poderia passar do chão, sim, e ser enterrado, abaixo dele”
December 29, 2019
Ela nos conta, do seu jeito tão gostoso e leve de ler, os horrores da ditadura. Conhecer para não repetir.
October 12, 2021
O final é lindo, triste por acabar e ao mesmo tempo feliz por ser assim
December 30, 2023
o cuidado, o esmero, o compromisso com a palavra é o que há de mais genuíno e saboroso na prosa de ana maria machado.
nem perdoar nem esquecer.
nem perdoar nem esquecer.
November 29, 2019
The events are a bit slow for my taste. However, I loved the diction and the imagery. Very vivid! You could actually feel you are over there next to the characters.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews