Join us to celebrate Katrina Dodson’s long-awaited translation of the Brazilian modernist epic novel Macunaíma: The Hero with No Character by Mário de Andrade.

This landmark 1928 novel follows the adventures of the shapeshifting Macunaíma and his brothers as they leave their Amazon home for a whirlwind tour of Brazil, cramming four centuries and a continental expanse into a single mythic plane. Having lost a magic amulet, the hero and his brothers journey to Sao Paulo to retrieve the talisman that has fallen into the hands of an Italo-Peruvian captain of industry (who is also a cannibal giant). Written over six delirious days—the fruit of years of study—Macunaíma magically synthesizes dialect, folklore, anthropology, mythology, flora, fauna, and pop culture to examine Brazilian identity. This brilliant translation by Katrina Dodson has been many years in the making and includes an extensive section of notes, providing essential context for this magnificent work. Dodson will be joined in conversation with poet and scholars Madhu H. Kaza and John Keene.

Brazilian musician Iara Rennó will perform songs from her album based on Macunaíma and there will be a reception sponsored by the Consulate General Brazil of New York after the event.

This event is co-presented by the Brazil LAB at Princeton University, the Consulate General Brazil of New York, and Instituto Guimarães Rosa.