The Countess Of Assis - Romance, revenge and ambition during the Second Reign
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This story happens in the city of Rio de Janeiro, capital of the Court in the Second Reign. Love, passion, intrigue, deception, betrayal, revenge, murder, power, and fame are some of the ingredients that compose this Book I — “From the ascension to the culmination” of The Countess of Assis, by João Paulo Foschi, who is giving us his first historical novel, guaranteeing to his name a spot on the hall of the Brazilian authors who also masterfully developed this genre, such as Márcio Souza, Rubem Fonseca, Moacyr Scliar and the Cearenses José de Alencar and Ana Miranda.
With the same enthusiasm I read this book, I recommend it to readers and lovers of good literature. Anxiously we wait for Book II, entitled “From the Culmination to the Downfall”, which will give sequence to the intriguing story of this surprising and extraordinary woman, Lorena, the Countess of Assis.
Vládia Mourão
Literary Writer and Critic
Emperor of Brazil, D. Pedro II, the “Magnanimous”
Ouvidor Street. Historical Center of Rio de Janeiro (1890)
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[1] Rio Carioca: A river situated in the city of Rio de Janeiro, whose spring is localized in the Tijuca Forest, and runs through the neighborhoods of Cosme Velho, Laranjeiras and Catete and drains into the Ganabara Bay, in the region of the Flamengo Beach.
[2]Rua do Ouvidor: In the XIX century, this street was an important location in the business center of Rio de Janeiro. It was the street of the cafés, newspapers, and bookstores and of the latest fashions from Europe.
[3] Advento (from Latin adventus, which means the coming, the arrival): According to the Christian liturgical calendar, it encompasses the four weeks preceding Christmas.
[4] Beauty counselor: expression used to designate “mirror”.
[5] Narcissus: According to the Greek mythology, he was a young man with intense beauty that, when seeing himself in the waters of a spring, fell in love with himself.
[6] Paulo and Virginia: Famous French romance by Jacques-Henri Bernardin de Saint Pierre (1737-1814), considered by critics as one of the predecessors of Romantism in France.
[7] Walter Scott: Notorious Scottish poet and romanticist (1771-1832). He is also known as the father of historic romance.
[8] Carolingians: Frank dynasty of the VIII century A.D. whose main exponent was the emperor Charlemagne.
[9] Victorian: Reference to the lifestyle adopted by the queen Victoria of the United Kingdom (1819-1901), who influenced and dictated the rules of behavior in many societies in Europe and in the Americas during the XIX century.
[10] Father Feijó: Diogo Antônio Feijó (1784–1843). Catholic priest and Brazilian statesman. Sole ruler of Brazil between 1835 and 1837.
[11] Saint-Germain-de-Près: An old neighborhood in the city of Paris, which developed around an abbey of the same name, on the left side of the Seine River.
[12] Estácio de Sá: Portuguese soldier (1520–1567). Founder of the city of Rio de Janeiro and the first governor general of the captaincy of Rio de Janeiro.
[13] Aglaia, Euphrosyne and Thalia: the three graces painted in Primavera by Botticelli, who represented, respectively, radiance, which helps joy and flowers to bloom.
[14] Sandro Botticelli (1445–1510): renowned Italian painter of the early Renaissance who belonged to the Florentine School.
[15] Dinnertime: Main meal of the day, usually served around 2pm.
[16] Decipher me or I’ll devour you!: Famous phrase pronounced by the sphinx of Thebes in the well-known tragedy, written by Greek playwright Sophocles (V century BC), called Oedipus the King.
[17] Chemist: an old fashioned word to mean ‘pharmacist’, still used in some parts of the world.
[18] Loony bin: insane asylum.
[19] Cassino: a reference to the Cassino Fluminense, one of the most important ballroom establishments of the Empire capital, opened in 1845.
[20] Álvares de Azevedo: Manuel Antônio Álvares de Azevedo (1831–1852). He was a Brazilian writer influenced by the literary trends of the second Romantic generation, author of Macário and Noite na Taverna.
[21] Pedro Augusto: Pedro Augusto de Saxe-Coburgo e Bragança (1866–1934). The oldest grandson of the Emperor D. Pedro II, nicknamed as “The Favorite” and “The Beloved”, considered as the second in line for the Brazilian throne.
[22] Aisance: French word that means “gracefulness” and “aplomb”.
[23] Dândi: A man that has a good taste and a notably aesthetic sense, but that does not necessarily belong to the nobility.
[24] Luncheon: Meal served usually around 8 am.
[25] Igreja de São João Batista: Reference to the Igreja de São João Batista of the Lake, built in 1831, and that is situated at the Voluntários da Pátria Street, in Botafogo.
[26] Sybil: According to the Greek Mythology, she is a woman who has prophetic powers under the inspiration of god Apollo.
[27] Madame Bovary: Romance novel published in 1857, with the main theme of adultery. It is considered the predecessor work of the Realist school in France.
[28] Gustave Flaubert: French writer (1821–1880). He is the author of important literary works linked to the French Realism, especially in novels, as Madame Bovary, L’Education Sentimentale and Salammbô.
[29] Victory: it is type of carriage pulled by one or two horses, which first appeared in England during the XIX century.
[30] Gamboa Beach: During the XIX century, it was the place chosen by the Carioca aristocracy to build impressive homes. It was also the place chosen to receive the English Cemetery, one of the most ancient necropolises of Brazil.
[31] Aragão Bell Warning: Reference to Francisco Alberto Teixeira de Aragão (1788–1847), who was the police commissioner during the First Reign. It corresponded to the curfew time for the city of Rio de Janeiro, announced by the bells of the São Francisco de Paula Church and the São Bento Monastery.
[32] Everyone judges appearance, no one according to essence: quote attributed to the German poet, playwright, historian and philosopher Friedrich Schiller (1759–1805), one of the proponents of the Romantic Movement in Germany.
[33]Chiquinha Gonzaga: Francisca Edwiges Neves Gonzaga (1847–1935), Brazilian pianist, composer and conductor. She was the author of the first Carnaval march with lyrics called Ô, Abre Alas, in 1899, and the first woman to conduct an orchestra in Brazil.
[34] Alcazar: Obscene theater located at Ouvidor Street, which opened for business around 1860.
[35] Voltarete: it was a well-liked card game, popular during the XIX century, in which a card set of forty cards is used and the competition happens among three players.
[36] Prima Hour: one of the canonic hours–prima, third, sixth and ninth–which correspond to 6am, 9am, 12pm, and 3pm, respectively.
[37] Desmarais: one of the most famous perfume stores of the old downtown section of Rio de Janeiro, located on Ouvido
r Street.
[38] Aphrodite: In the Greek mythology, she was the goddess of love and beauty.
[39] Carceller: During the mid-1900s, it was one of the most famous bakeries in Rio de Janeiro, patronized eve by the Imperial Family.
[40] Little House (original title: Casinha Pequenina): It is a traditional modinha (music style), sang by the many Brazilian singers from end of the XIX century.
[41] Lauds: Also known as the Morning Prayer. It is a canonic hour, referring to the initial moment of the day.
[42] Jornal do Commercio: a traditional daily newspaper of Rio de Janeiro, founded in 1827, by Pierre Plancher.
[43] Hypocrites’ Oath: the author makes a sarcastic pun to the famous Hippocratic oath, which is solemnly made by doctors who swear to practice their medical profession honestly.
[44] Venus: the Roman correspondent of Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty to the Greek.
[45] Bernardo: Reference to the establishment owned by Mr. Bernardo Ribeiro da Cunha, owner of a famous barbershop located at Ouvidor Street.
[46] Mirrors of the soul: an expression to indicate “eyes”.
[47] Le Comte de Monte-Cristo (in English, The Count of Mount Cristo): revenge is the main theme of this narrative, which became one of the most famous romance novels by Alexandre Dumas (father), published in 1844.
[48] Alexandre Dumas (father): French romanticist (1802–1870), author of famous novels such as The Three Musketeers, Queen Margot and The Count of Mount Cristo.
[49] Dantès: Edmond Dantès is the main character of the romance novel Le Comte de Monte-Cristo.
[50] Baron of Cotegipe: João Maurício Wanderley (1815–1889), the Baron of Cotegipe, was one of the authors of the Sexagenarian Law (Saraiva-Cotegipe), which freed the slaves above 65 years of age.
[51] Lucia di Lammermmor: Italian opera in three acts by Gaetano Donizetti, with lyrics by Salvatore Cammarano, based on the romance The Bride Of Lammermoor, by Walter Scott.
[52] Imperial Theater: Reference to D. Pedro II Imperial Theater, founded in 1871.
[53] Donizetti: Gaetano Donizetti (1797–1848), Italian opera composer, and one of the best representations of Romanticism.
[54] Champ de Mars: it one of the biggest green areas of Paris. It was on this region that the Eiffel Tower was built, finished in 1889.
[55] Rivoli: one of the most elegant and luxurious hotels in Paris, built in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte. In this section of the novel, there is a certain sarcasm in regard to the luxury and opulence lived by the nobility and the aristocrats described by the author.
[56] Louis Figuier: Guillaume Louis Figuier (1819–1894). French doctor, scientist and writer. He is considered the creator of the so-called “scientific theater”.
[57] Doctor Mota Maia: Cláudio Velho da Mota Maia (1843–1897). He was the official doctor of the Imperial Palace, nominated in 1880.
[58] Julius Caesar: Gaius Julius Caesar (100 BC – 44 BC) was one of Rome’s main political and military leaders.
[59] Alea jacta est: This Latin expression means “The die is cast!”.
[60] Angelus: Time that designated the end of the afternoon, also known as the “hail Mary’s”, announced by three bell strokes, calling the believers to pray.