Selected Cronicas

A revelation for readers of Clarice Lispector`s novels and stories, Selected Cronicas presents for the first time in America a new dimension to Brazil`s greatest twentieth-century writer. The chronicle, a literary genre peculiar to Brazil, allows poets and novelists to address a wide. readership on any theme they like. Lispector`s Saturday column from 1967 to 1973 in Rio`s leading newspaper, the Jornal do Brasil , was, even by Brazilian standards, extraordinarily free-ranging and intimate--astonishingly so to readers of U.S. newspapers. The 156 cronicas collected here--variously taking the form of serialized stories, essays, aphorisms, conversations with taxi drivers, random thoughts, introspective revelations, memories--are endlessly delightful. Her insights make one sit up and think, whether about pets or children or society women or love: Wrath and hatred are the sorrow of not being able to love ; Generosity (akin to love) is the very core of our humanity ; Love can never be a bad thing. But it often turns out to be hatred in disguise. Copyright (C) Muze Inc. 2005. For personal use only. All rights reserved.