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The Looking-Glass

Essential Stories
By Machado de Assis
Series: Pushkin Collection
0.0 (0 reviews)
3.91 goodreads logo

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Check link for latest rating. ( 45 ratings, 14 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
In The Looking-Glass by Machado de Assis, the protagonist embarks on a journey of self-reflection and introspection through his experiences with mirrors and reflections. The story delves into themes of identity, perception, and reality, as the character grapples with the philosophical implications of seeing oneself and the potential for change or enlightenment. As he navigates the interplay between illusion and truth, readers are invited to question the nature of their own reflections and consciousness.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you appreciate thought-provoking narratives that explore the intricacies of human nature with wit and irony. Machado de Assis's storytelling combines philosophical insights with a keen examination of society, making it a captivating read for fans of classic literature who enjoy deeper reflections on life's absurdities.

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'If Borges is the writer who made Garcia Marquez possible then it is no exaggeration to say that Machado De Assis is the writer who made Borges possible' - Salman Rushdie

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Machado de Assis is one of the most enigmatic and fascinating story writers who ever lived. What appear at first to be stately social satires reveal unanticipated depths through flashes of darkness and winking surrealism. This new selection of his finest work, translated by the prize-winning Daniel Hahn, showcases the many facets of his mercurial genius.

A brilliant scientist opens the first asylum in his hometown, only to start finding signs of insanity all around him. A young lieutenant basks in the praise of his new position, but in solitude feels his identity fray into nothing. The reading of a much-loved, respected elder statesman's journals reveals hidden thoughts of merciless cruelty.

The Looking-Glass by Machado de Assis captures these compelling narratives, revealing his unique ability to blend social commentary with elements of the surreal.

'The greatest writer ever produced in Latin America' - Susan Sontag

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  • The Looking-Glass
    Machado de Assis is one of the most enigmatic and fascinating story writers who ever lived. What appear at first to be stately social satires reveal unanticipated depths through flashes of darkness and winking surrealism. This new selection of his finest work, translated by the prize-winning Daniel Hahn, showcases the many facets of his mercurial genius. A brilliant scientist opens...
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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Looking-Glass by Machado de Assis is praised for its profound literary impact, with Susan Sontag and others recognising him as a pivotal figure in Latin America's literary history. Salman Rushdie and Allen Ginsberg highlight his significant influence, likening him to Borges and Kafka. The New York Times commends his masterful use of humour and insights into human psychology, likening his work to that of European literary greats.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781782278078

Publisher: Pushkin Press

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 27 October 2022

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Pushkin Press

Contributors:

  • Translated by Daniel Hahn
  • Translated by Daniel Hahn

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 120.0mm

Height: 165.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 240

Collections

Classic Fiction Fiction General Fiction Literary Fiction Machado de Assis Series: Pushkin Collection

About the Author

Joaquim Maria Machado de Assis is widely regarded as among the greatest Brazilian writers of all time. He was born to a poor family in Rio de Janerio and, with little formal education, took work as a typographer's apprentice and began to write and publish at age 15. Machado went on to a successful career as a writer of romantic novels and government bureaucrat. In the late 1870s he suffered a severe bout of illness, after which he wrote the ironic, complex masterpieces for which he is now famous, including The Posthumous Memoirs of Bras Cubas and Dom Casmurro.

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