Excellent and very accessible translation of this great novel. I hope this will lead to more people reading it, because I think it deserves to be known more in the literary world.

I can't help comparing this translation to the other translation that came out this year -- the NY Times review made me do it, I wouldn't've known otherwise... but I started reading that one in a store after having read about a third of this, and I had to buy the hard-copy of the Liveright translation and switch over. It's more nimble, more fun.

But the book itself? A classic, truly, in whatever translation or form you consume it!

So, this one is on me for thinking I was more receptive to wittiness than I actually am. I could see the skill involved here - the playfulness, the black undertones - but either from needing to constantly look up the context or not getting the references made I just couldn't enjoy it. I wish I had; it just never made it there for me.

I will say though, that if I were judging this book on the merits of the translator's notes alone I'd have rated this a lot higher. The notes are comprehensive and interesting, and I really liked the translator's introduction too. For anyone who already has a grasp on this period of Brazilian history - or anyone who is more open to this style of writing - this book will make a lovely addition to that reader's collection.