Jorge Amado narra a história das várias mortes de Joaquim Soares da Cunha, vulgo Quincas Berro Dágua, cidadão exemplar que a certa altura da vida decide abandonar a família e a reputação ilibada para juntar-se à malandragem da cidade. Algum tempo depois, Quincas é encontrado sem vida em seu quarto imundo. Sua envergonhada família tenta restituir-lhe a compostura, vesti-lo e enterrá-lo com decência; mas, no velório, os amigos de copo e farra dão-lhe cachaça, despem-no dos trajes formais e fazem-no voltar a ser o bom e velho Quincas Berro Dágua. Levado ao Pelourinho, o finado Quincas joga capoeira, abraça meretrizes, canta, ri e segue a farra em direção à sua segunda e agora apoteótica morte.

Por vezes, o esforço dos escritores da geração de 1930s (Amado, Ze Americo, Rachel) para retratar a realidade de maneira crítica acabava por restringir o espaço da fantasia e da imaginação. Sem abrir mão da perspectiva sociológica, Jorge Amado reservou espaço para o absurdo em algumas de suas narrativas. É o que ocorre em A Morte e a Morte de Quincas Berro d’Água. Como um bom contador de histórias, o narrador desenvolve seu enredo surpreendente, preocupando-se menos em ser verdadeiro e mais em ser verossímil. ( )

Quincas Wateryell’s double life, his wife and children prayed for him after he called them vipers and, without so much as a glance over his shoulder, walked out of his respectable middle-class home forever. And to think, such an obedient, meek husband and father, a former exemplary employee of the State Rent Board; the derelicts, tramps, hobos, gamblers and prostitutes in the squalid neighborhoods of his second life all loved him, their first and foremost shinning star of seedy bar and sailor skiff (Quincas’ great-great grandfather was a captain and Quincas could feel the sea in his blood), through ten glorious years of carousing, marathon card games, rum drinking and thousands of debaucheries, their leader, Daddy, great pal and hero would spin his new life around a squalid flophouse where he would occasionally crash in his bare, dingy room furnished with sagging, moth-eaten cot; leader and pal, Daddy and hero (did I previously mention his roles? If so, it bears repeating), his arms always spread wide, embracing down-and-outers against all odds, his open heart, his warm smile, rum-fueled fire sparkling in his eyes - all this is noble, splendid, spirited, liberating and caused his family endless embarrassment and shame.

A friend recently wrote me saying how another world-renowned author from Brazil couldn’t hold a candle to the storytelling of Jorge Amado. It’s hard to argue with this statement since Jorge's nearly thirty novels, astonishing literary masterpieces loved by millions of readers, from intellectuals and esteemed critics to workers in the field, prove Jorge to be among the world’s foremost storytelling giants.

And please do not underestimate this Jorge Amado novella under review – its less than one hundred pages contain more sheer energy, excitement and euphoria, joy and jubilance than an entire shelf of works many times its length penned by a good number of other authors.

The spirit of wild, intoxicated Dionysius has an undeniable presence on every single page. If you are not yet acquainted with the author, this little gem is the perfect place to imbibe some Jorge Amado storytelling splendor. Set your spirit free!

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[The Double Death of Quincas Water-Bray] by Jorge Amardo
This penguin classics edition is translated by Gregory Rabassa. The story itself reads well for its mere 70 pages and the black humour will entertain many readers. Pass the cachaça and read rebeccanyc’s review ( )