Captains of the Sands
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Book Overview
A Brazilian Lord of the Flies, about a group of boys who live by their wits and daring in the slums of Bahia A Penguin Classics They call themselves "Captains of the Sands," a gang of orphans and runaways who live by their wits and daring in the torrid slums and sleazy back alleys of Bahia. Led by fifteen-year-old "Bullet," the band--including a crafty liar named "Legless," the intellectual "Professor," and the sexually precocious "Cat"--pulls off heists and escapades against the right and privileged of Brazil. But when a public outcry demands the capture of the "little criminals," the fate of these children becomes a poignant, intensely moving drama of love and freedom in a shackled land. Captains of the Sands captures the rich culture, vivid emotions, and wild landscape of Bahia with penetrating authenticity and brilliantly displays the genius of Brazil's most acclaimed author. For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
Format:Paperback
Language:English
ISBN:014310635X
ISBN13:9780143106357
Release Date:June 2013
Publisher:Penguin Classics
Length:288 Pages
Weight:1.23 lbs.
Dimensions:0.8" x 5.2" x 7.7"
Age Range:18 years and up
Grade Range:Postsecondary and higher
Customer Reviews
5 ratings
Capitães is a true classic of Brazilian Literature!
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 15 years ago
Olá! This is one of my favorite books. It takes place in the cultural mecca of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, as do so many of Jorge Amado's novels. The characters are the "capitães da aréia"--a gang of homeless or truant boys who banded together for protection. It is a coming-of-age story about these young boys, who encounter the typical teenage romances and heartbreaks, along with the terror of the smallpox outbreak and the questions of Catholicism and Afro-Brazilian religion. This is truly a masterpiece of Brazilian literature, not to be missed. For more Brazilian books, check out Atlantico Books!
If you've read them all, read this!
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 23 years ago
It is absolutely magnificant. This is the first time for me writing a book review online and I thought that I'd never do it, but after I saw that there's is copy out there somewhere I had to say that 69$ is nothing for this book. It is the only book I take along when I travel or move abroad. It is the book that can change your life, or atleast bring that special something to it. Now that I'm reading this through I have this funny feeling that it's not me writing, but from time to time you come across extraordinary matters that make you act in a very peculiar way. This is one them. Don't miss it.
It really touches your heart
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 25 years ago
This has to be the best book Jorge Amado has ever written. It was the first book of his that I ever read, it touched me so deeply, that I have read almost all his books since. It really lets you know about the poverty in Brasil, and what some people would do for money. Every character and every story in the novel makes sense. It touches my heart to see what some kids go through, not only in Brasil but in the whole world. As a proud Brasilian myself, It made me think a lot about the poverty in my country. The love story is also so romantic and sad. It's simply just the best book that I have ever read.
Very entertaining
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 27 years ago
Excellent opportunity to learn how poverty plays its role in the life of children in Brazil. The mix of reality and fiction makes this book a must-read.
Classic Brazilian Literature
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 27 years ago
If you want to read one of the books of Jorge Amado, try this one first. It's a old one, but one of the best. Full of social criticism, but not boring at all
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