Favela

by Alex Hijmans

Please note that this book is in not in the English language; it is an Irish-language work only. Dutch-born journalist Alex Hijmans lives in one of Brazil’s many poor and dangerous suburbs. As the only white person in this district, populated with the impoverished descendants of Africans who were brought as slaves to Brazil, he ponders the great life secret of these suffering how can they live contented lives in a place devoid of worldly possessions?

181 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 1, 2009

About the author

Alex Hijmans was born in Heemskerk in Holland In 1975. He moved to Galway in 1995 to learn Irish as part of his degree in Celtic Studies in Holland’s Utrecht University. After his degree he did a Higher Diploma in Applied Communications in Galway University and began a career in journalism in Ireland. Alex worked for Foinse, Raidió na Gaeltachta, RTÉ and Nuacht TG4 for ten years. He has translated a novel for teenagers, Maistín (Cló Iar-Chonnacht, 2001), from Dutch to Irish and his play Aingilín was performed in Dublin and Galway in 2002. Short Stories by Alex pen have been published in the magazines Comhar, Crannóg agus Dúillí Éireann.

At the end of 2007 Alex headed for South America, where he spend six months living in a poor suburb - or favela - on the outskirts of Salvador, the third largest city in Brazil. This provided the material for his novel Favela (Cois Life, 2009) which was shortlisted for Gradam Uí Shúilleabháin 2010 (Irish Language Book of the Year Award). His next novel Aiséirí will be published in 2011.

Alex and his husband Nilton live in Salvador.

Reviews

[Paddy Reddy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leabhar neamhfhicsean fíorshuimiúil ar an saol sa Bhrasaíl. D'fhoghlaim mé an-chuid faoi. Tá Poirtingéilis á fhoghlaim agam ó bhí Covid ann, agus ba bhreá liom tuilleadh ó údar seo a léamh. Go raibh maith agat!

[Doireann O'B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leabhar maith, d'fhoghlaim mé go leor faoin mBraiseal and Salvador.

[Séamas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cur síos atá ann ar shaol an údair i favela i gcathair Bhrasaíleach.
Tá an leabhar suimiúil agus dea-scríofa, lán le vignettes beaga de shaol na ndaoine ansin.
Cé gur foilsíodh an leabhar cúpla bliain ó shin tá sé thar a bheith tráthúil é a léamh anois, le léargas ceart tuisceanach a fháil ar shaol a lán daoine sa Bhrasaíl, seachas an t-imprisean dromchlach lonrach a gheofá ó íomhánna na meán cumarsáide sin atá ag craoladh ó thrá i Rio le linn Chorn an Domhain le mí anuas.