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The Sad End of Policarpo Quaresma
The Sad End of Policarpo Quaresma
Jul 6, 2025 4:20 AM

Author:Lima Barreto

The Sad End of Policarpo Quaresma

'The seed of madness exists in all of us and with no warning may attack, overpower, crush and bury us ... '

Policarpo Quaresma - fastidious civil servant, dedicated patriot, self-styled visionary - is a defender of all things Brazilian, full of schemes to improve his beloved homeland. Yet somehow each of his ventures, whether it is petitioning for Brazil's national language to be changed, buying a farm to prove the richness and fertility of the land, or offering support to government forces as they suppress a military revolt - results in ridicule and disaster. Quixotic and hapless, Quaresma's dreams will eventually be his undoing.

Funny, despairing, moving and absurd, Lima Barreto's masterpiece shows a man and a country caught in the violent clash between illusion and reality, hope and decline, sanity and madness.

Reviews

What a beautiful book. I cried and smiled my way through

—— Jane Green

Heart-breaking yet blackly comic . . . echoing the style of Roddy Doyle. Impossible to put down.

—— Image

Beautiful, brave storytelling . . . Buy a packet (or box) of tissues and settle down with this wonderful story. One of our books of 2015

—— Heat Magazaine

A bittersweet story of family, faith and love . . . both deeply affecting and life-affirming

—— Sunday Mirror

Enormously readable, funny and emotionally engaging

—— Irish Times

A delightful roller-coaster ride of emotion

—— Sunday Independent

I loved the clear, elegant prose, the feisty characters and the sparkling dialogue

—— Susan Elliot Wright

An emotional tale filled with tears and laughter

—— Bella Magazine

Anna McPartlin can make you feel despair and sadness but she can also make you see the light at the end of the tunnel. It's quite an impressive feat. If you haven't already tried Anna McPartlin then you are definitely missing out. She is one of the finest writers around

—— Chicklitreviewsandnews.com

The storyline and characters are swept along on a tide of humour . . . an uplifting read

—— MyWeekly

Insightful and touching but jovial at the same time. There's nothing better than an Irish author who can drop the F-bomb in every paragraph.

—— Nadiya Hussain

A cracker of a thriller . . . a zippy and classic briefcase-full-of-money thrill ride

—— Kirkus Review USA

An exciting thriller about justice and courage pitted against ruthless corruption that takes readers into perilous places and prepares them for Oliver Twist

—— Amanda Craig , The Times

A brilliant book I cannot recommend highly enough

—— Charlie Higson , Mail on Sunday

Exciting and fast moving as the story is, it also tugs at your heartstrings and reminds the reader that there are many young people for whom this way of life is reality. Unmissable!

—— Pat Tate , Carousel

This is a powerful and gripping story that takes us into some painful places, but makes us believe that transformation is possible - that the vulnerable and weak can sometimes triumph against a whole system. I would very highly recommend it

—— Armadillo Magazine

Often funny, more often very moving

—— John Boyne , The Gloss

While readers will delight in the excitement and adventure of this story, they will also learn about the poverty and difficulties faced by many children throughout the world and about the consequences of corruption in government

—— Marianne Saccardi , Greenwich Citizen

The chase leads them throughout the city, exposing the great disparity between the "haves" and the "have nots," and the huge injustice this represents. They face moral dilemmas throughout and, ultimately, make good decisions. Their intelligence and characters make the condition in which they live seem even more unfair

—— Kristin Anderson , School Library Journal

An exciting read full of suspense. This will appeal to boys and to girls, and could act as a stimulus to classroom discussion of poverty, child workers, recycling in third world countries and the misuse of economic and political power

—— School Librarian
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