Citizen Emperor: Pedro II and the Making of Brazil, 1825-1891

by Roderick J. Barman

In the history of post-colonial Latin America no person has held power so firmly and for so long as did Pedro II as emperor of Brazil. Called to the throne in 1840 at the age of 14, Pedro II devoted himself for the next half century to transforming Brazil into a functioning nation-state, applying “all my forces and all my devotion to assuring the progress and prosperity of my people.” This is the first full-length biography in 60 years, and the first in any language to make close use of Pedro II’s diaries and family papers.

Resourceful, patient, cautious, and above all persevering, Pedro II acquired undisputed control of public affairs and was indispensable in establishing Brazil’s viability as a nation. By his personal character, behavior, and interests, he created a model of citizenship that commanded acceptance at home and respect abroad. A friend of Longfellow, Emerson, and Oliver Wendell Holmes, he was the first foreign head of state to visit the United States.

By the 1880s, the rising generation had so internalized the model of Pedro II that it greatly resembled him in outlook and culture. Ironically, his success was such that the ruling circles took Brazil’s existence as a nation for granted and viewed him as old-fashioned and irrelevant to the nation’s needs. In effect, he had made himself redundant. Unable to change his ways of ruling, weakened by illness, and increasingly marginal to public affairs, he was overthrown by a military coup in 1889. Exiled to Europe, he died in Paris two years later.

This volume reveals how the political and the personal intertwined to make Pedro II the person he was. Many facets of his character appear innate—his great energy and his love of books and learning, for example—but his personality was also shaped by a privileged background, painful childhood experiences, and convoluted relationships with his parents, siblings, wife, and children. He was remarkably self-centered, with a distrust of intimacy that left him emotionally deprived. He worked alone, and his principal advisors were never human beings but books.

A man of monumental restraint and iron self-discipline, Pedro II took great care in speech and writing to reveal little of his inner self. These defenses once penetrated, as in this book, we encounter a complex personality who simultaneously compels sympathy, exasperation, and respect.

Genres: History, Biography, Brazil, Nonfiction

576 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 1999

About the author

Roderick Barman is Emeritus Professor of History at the University of British Columbia.

Reviews

[Paulo Reimann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Um livro de raro valor. Que me motiva a entender melhor D. Pedro II e sua forma de ser e conduzir seu estilo e governo. Talvez o maior estadista que já existiu no Brasil. Não me faz um monarquista mas um admirador da pessoa e sua ética.

[Gustavo Nascimento · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lendo 1889 vi que este livro era referenciado em diversos trechos e me interessei em ler também e descobri uma obra fantástica. Pelo menos minha educação do Ensino Fundamental e Médio sempre me passou idéia de que a época do Império só tinha pontos negativos e era quase uma piada, ao ler mais sobre o assunto percebi que embora o sistema de governo não fosse o ideal, era até bem avançado pra época. No final da obra o autor até explica um pouco como tudo que era relacionado ao período monárquico no Brasil foi desmoralizado principalmente pelo positivismo inicialmente e depois pelos historiadores influenciados pelo marxismo.
A figura do imperador Pedro II é resgatada nesta excelente biografia rica em detalhes , trazendo um visão bastante isenta pelo fato de ter um autor estrangeiro. D. Pedro II foi uma figura admirável , creio que sem paralelo na história Republicana, pecou por não ser favorável a mudanças que o país precisava no final do seu Reinado sempre acreditando na lenta evolução da política e não na ruptura. Pouco fez para que sua filha pudesse tornar-se imperatriz um dia. Tampouco fez qualquer esforço para manter-se no poder frente ao golpe militar ou para retomar o poder, continuou saudando o país e torcendo pelo melhor. Embora a República tenha trazido muitas mudanças necessárias naquele momento trouxe junto uma herança maldita do autoritarismo na história do Brasil que curiosamente na Monarquia com poder Moderador nunca predominou.
A defesa de Pedro II fazia da educação é um dos pontos mais louváveis da sua personalidade, ele acreditava que a melhor forma para que o país fosse governado era a Rebública, mas que o povo brasileiro ainda não tinha educação suficiente para isso naquele momento. Será que terá algum dia?

[Samuel Saul Richardson · Rating 2 out of 5]

My first biography. I will admit certainly more boring than many other books I've read. It doesn't help that I'm not entirely knowledgable on this time period. Or Brazil. Or South America in general. But now that's changed.

Very in-depth. Not sure if Pedro II still should hold a spot on my inspirations list or not but I'll let all the information settle before thinking about it.

#SelfTaughtHistory #Inspirations

[Fernando De Lima · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a Brazilian I got really impressive with this great work written by a foreign person.

Mr. Barman did an incredible job here.

One suggestion: If you like Brazilian History in special the Monarchy time and about this great man, try to visit Petropolis during or after the reading.

That city keep the history and memory of the Emperor alive.

[Yuri Modolon Lima · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imperador Cidadão é uma obra essencial. Barman detalha a vida de D. Pedro II em extremos detalhes e nos ajuda a entender como pensava e agia o Imperador.
Com uma quantidade absurda de referências históricas e notas de rodapé, o livro as vezes é pesado. Todavia pela quantidade absurda de informação, e pelo valor histórico que essa obra representa, vale a nota máxima.

[Camila De · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leitura leve, com fatos marcantes que ajudam a entender não só o Dom Pedro II, como a história da política no Brasil

[John Boles · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting read on a very interesting character. D. Pedro II remains an exemplary citizen and politician even now, 200 years removed from his life. This immensely researched and well-written biography presents plain history mixed with a character study of the Emperor himself, those parts which I found most interesting being anecdotes related to his day-to-day governmental business. A highly recommended read for anyone even minimally interested in the end of the Imperial era across the world, as D. Pedro's exile two years before his death were seen as an inevitability at the time, allowing for a Republic to form.