{"product_id":"memorial-de-ayres-9781324096795","title":"Memorial de Ayres","description":"\u003cp\u003eJoaquim Maria Machado de Assis has been hailed as one of Latin America's greatest writers, a progenitor of modernism and a masterful ironist known for his inspired critiques of nineteenth-century Brazil. \u003cem\u003eMemorial de Ayres\u003c\/em\u003e is his final novel, released just two months before his death in 1908.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e In your hands is the diary of Counselor Ayres, a retired diplomat now dedicated to chronicling his day-to-day happenings during the waning years of the Brazilian Empire. Ayres will be the first to tell you that he lives a simple life: the most eventful part of his week is lunch with his sister Rita or a visit to their family cemetery.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e But a new love interest--and a bet with Rita--pushes Ayres from the confines of his quiet routine into the cheery home of the Aguiars, an older couple who, like him, are childless. Soon, the merriment is permeated by whispers that the power of the empire is fading--the end of slavery draws near. As Brazil's well-to-do ponder the momentous changes afoot over card games and afternoon coffee, Ayres finds himself suddenly unsure of his place in the shifting milieu: \"Everything in this world goes in fashions, except for the stars and me.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eMemorial de Ayres\u003c\/em\u003e marks the latest installment in Margaret Jull Costa and Robin Patterson's groundbreaking series of Machado translations, the duo credited with introducing a new generation of readers to the classic author. Shot through with Machado's signature sly humor and psychological subtlety, and set during a singularly transformative time in Brazil's history, \u003cem\u003eMemorial de Ayres\u003c\/em\u003e is a quietly prescient tale of personal and national legacy.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePraise for Machado de Assis\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"A writer one hundred years ahead of his time.\"\u003cbr\u003e ?\u003cstrong\u003eSalman Rushdie\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"A great ironist, a tragic comedian. . . . In his books, in their most comic moments, he underlines the suffering by making us laugh.\"\u003cbr\u003e --\u003cstrong\u003ePhilip Roth\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"One of the pleasures of reading Machado is to encounter this comedy of detail, of human particulars.\"\u003cbr\u003e --\u003cstrong\u003eMorten H i Jensen, \u003cem\u003eLos Angeles Review of Books\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"In the sureness of pace, the ingratiating swerve, Machado is peerless.\"\u003cbr\u003e ?\u003cstrong\u003eElizabeth Hardwick\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Joaquim Maria Machado De Assis\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Liveright Publishing Corporation\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 08\/04\/2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 240\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.90lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 8.30h x 5.80w x 0.90d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781324096795\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eReview Citation(s): \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eLibrary Journal\u003c\/i\u003e 06\/05\/2026 pg. 1\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e 07\/01\/2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eBooklist\u003c\/i\u003e 07\/01\/2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eCosta, Margaret Jull:\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e - \u003cstrong\u003eMargaret Jull Costa\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eRobin Patterson\u003c\/strong\u003e have translated the work of Lúcio Cardoso, Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen, and Clarice Lispector, among others. They live in England.\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003ePatterson, Robin:\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e - \u003cstrong\u003eRobin Patterson\u003c\/strong\u003e has translated José Luandino Vieira and lives in England. \u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eDe Assis, Joaquim Maria Machado:\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e - \u003cstrong\u003eJoaquim Maria Machado de Assis\u003c\/strong\u003e (1839-1908) was born in Rio de Janeiro and is the groundbreaking author of such works as \u003cem\u003eDom Casmurro\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eThe Posthumous Memoirs of Brás Cubas.\u003c\/em\u003e","brand":"booksdeli.com","offers":[{"title":"Joaquim Maria Machado De Assis \/ Hardcover \/ English","offer_id":48791243882653,"sku":"9781324096795","price":34.78,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0619\/5648\/9373\/files\/img_19169cb0-d359-4f8f-9bb5-75a21e3c2955.jpg?v=1786550789","url":"https:\/\/booksdeli.com\/products\/memorial-de-ayres-9781324096795","provider":"booksdeli.com","version":"1.0","type":"link"}