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"Another Kafka." -Allen Ginsberg
"The supreme black literary artist to date." -Harold Bloom
"A great ironist, a tragic comedian . . . In his books, in their most comic moments, he underlines the suffering by making us laugh." -Philip Roth
Prepare to immerse yourself in a work that transcends time and challenges the mind. The Alienist: A Tale of Madness and Method is drawn from Machado de Assis's Papeis Avulsos, a collection of stories that immediately reveals the extraordinary talent of one of the greatest literary geniuses of all time.
Within these pages, readers encounter a rare blend of psychological insight, sharp social critique, and elegant prose infused with irony and intelligence. Each story encourages reflection on human nature, with all its obsessions, contradictions, and enigmas. The opening tale, The Alienist, offers a meticulous study of character and madness, showcasing Machado de Assis's remarkable understanding of the human psyche.
At the center of the story is Simao Bacamarte, a man of extraordinary intellect and insatiable curiosity, determined to unravel the mysteries of the human mind. As a devoted doctor and scientist, he establishes a madhouse in the town of Itaguai to study behavior and investigate the nature of insanity, convinced that reason and irrationality can be observed, classified, and comprehended.
As his experiments unfold, Bacamarte emerges as a complex figure-admirable for his intellect and resolve, yet increasingly unsettling in his obsession with defining what is "normal" and "abnormal." His journey is a compelling exploration of the delicate balance between science, morality, and authority, revealing how the quest for absolute knowledge can be both illuminating and profoundly disquieting.
