Great wilderness

The great wilderness (Grande Sertão: Veredas) - novel by the Brazilian writer João Guimarães Rosa from 1956. It is not divided into chapters, it is written in archaic and at the same time colloquial. Considered difficult for translators. Polish translation by Helena Czajka (PIW, 1972). One of the most important Latino novels, probably the most important Brazilian.

Story Riobaldo was at the beginning of the 20th century a jagunço (mercenary, bandit) in the state of Minas Gerais in the steppe desert of Sertão bounded by the left bank of the São Francisco River. Now as an older man, a rancher tells his long story to a silent, unnamed, newcomer from the city.

The hero comes from the middle class, at first he was a private teacher of a wealthy rancher, Ze Bebelo, fighting bandits with his own branch of jagunços. But Riobaldo, from his adventurous desire, went to the bandits' side. He was valued for his accuracy in shooting. He became friends with Diadorim from the gang. There was a split in the group, a Hermogenes gang, and another Zebel Bebel. The leader of the latter was Riobaldo.

He tried to make a pact with the devil, but he did not know if that was the case. He defeated opponents from the other band. Diadori died, who turned out to be a woman. Riobaldo resigned his command and settled on the ranch.

Scenes from the life of the robbers are, for example, passing through an enemy desert, a battle for knives, a stay in a village plagued by plague. The title "veredas" is the path through swamps in higher parts of Sertão.

In 1985, a television miniseries based on this novel was made in Brazil.

wiki