Dom Casmurro

Back of the Book

Originally published in 1899, Dom Casmurro is widely considered to be Joaquim Maria Machado de Assis’s masterpiece and a progenitor of twentieth-century Latin American fiction. This exuberant new translation captures all the hilarious, maddening, and utterly compelling idiosyncrasies of one of Machado’s most complex characters.

Bento Santiago, our charismatic yet exceedingly unreliable narrator, nicknamed by his enemies Dom Casmurro, has become a bit of a recluse in old age. He spends his days reading and mourning the past in a house built as a replica of his childhood home. One day, musing over the painted busts of Nero, Augustus, Masinissa, and Caesar, he is inspired to write his own story, a tale of equally epic proportions. Or so, at least, he thinks.

“Yes, let us begin by evoking a famous November afternoon, one I will never forget,” he writes, recalling the day he fell in love with his childhood sweetheart, Capitu. Thus he transports readers back to his youth in a once fashionable neighborhood, when he and Capitu were neighbors playing innocently in the backyard. But after overcoming many obstacles, Bento’s happy-ever-after ending proves short-lived when he is consumed by paranoia and jealousy.

At once oblivious and obsessive, Bento becomes a strangely engaging antihero as he mines the repercussions of his suspicions against the backdrop of a rapidly modernizing Rio de Janeiro. Eloquently translated by Margaret Jull Costa and Robin Patterson―the same duo that sparked a Machado renaissance with their brilliant translations of The Collected Storiesand Posthumous Memoirs of Brás Cubas―and brimming with his signature charm, Dom Casmurro is a subversive and groundbreaking dark comedy from one of Brazil’s greatest authors.

Why You Should Read It

Dom Casmurro immerses readers in the intricacies of the human psyche and the complexities of relationships. The novel's narrator, Bento Santiago, invites us into a world of jealousy, love, and betrayal, weaving a narrative that challenges perceptions and keeps readers questioning the authenticity of the story. Machado de Assis's wit and irony add layers to the storytelling, creating a rich tapestry of human experience. The novel's exploration of unreliable narration and the blurred lines between reality and perception sets it apart, making it a compelling read for those who enjoy psychological depth and nuanced character portrayals. Dom Casmurro remains a timeless exploration of the intricacies of human emotions, offering readers a thought-provoking journey into the complexities of the human heart.

Memorable Passage

Lovers' language, give me an exact and poetic comparison to say what those eyes of Capitu were like. No image comes to mind that doesn't offend against the rules of good style, to say what they were and what they did to me. Undertow eyes? Why not? Undertow. That's the notion that the new expression put in my head. They held some kind of mysterious, active fluid, a force that dragged one in, like the undertow of a wave retreating from the shore on stormy days. So as not to be dragged in, I held onto anything around them, her ears, her arms, her hair spread about her shoulders; but as soon as I returned to the pupils of her eyes again, the wave emerging from them grew towards me, deep and dark, threatening to envelop me, draw me in and swallow me up.

About the Author

Machado de Assis (1839–1908) was a Brazilian writer and literary luminary who, despite facing the challenges of a society marked by slavery and inequality, emerged as a literary trailblazer in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Born in Rio de Janeiro, he defied social norms to become a leading figure in Brazilian literature. His works, including Dom Casmurro and The Posthumous Memoirs of Brás Cubas, showcase his mastery in blending irony, wit, and psychological insight. What makes Machado de Assis worth knowing is his ability to delve into the human condition, portraying characters with depth and complexity. His contributions to Brazilian literature reflect a keen understanding of societal nuances, offering readers a window into the cultural and psychological landscape of his time.

Recommended By

Fiona Alison Duncan