Ein nostalgischer Spötter / The Nostalgic Jester

Abstract

Originally published as an afterword to the German translation of Memorial de Aires, entitled Tagebuch des Abschieds (Berlin: Friedenauer Presse, 2009), the present article contextualizes the literary production of Machado de Assis, especially his last novel, in the Brazilian socio-political environment of the 19th century. Besides approaching biographical and historical aspects which are relevant to the understanding of the novel, it discusses translation questions and intercultural parallels, working as an important paratext to the German translation.