A heresia dos índios: catolicismo e rebeldia no Brasil colonial

by Ronaldo Vainfas

Portugese

275 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

Reviews

[Mrs. Fujiwara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vainfas is one of the most respected Brazilian Historians, but I do not know if his works were already translated to English or any other language. He has an amazing writing, coherent and agreeable, which transforms any boring subject in a very attractive reading. And since I do like to study Brazil’s colonial times, to be able to read this book was a real pleasure. It is about Indian resistance to Portuguese and Catholic rule during the XVI century; how Brazilian original inhabitants fought against the physical and psychological pressure imposed by Europeans with a mix of Catholicism and native religions. What I like the most about it, though, is the way the author seems to be always trying to catch the attention of the reader by developing carefully the private lives and preferences of his characters. Also, and here I think it is something typical of great researchers, he is constantly pointing out his own opinion in some subjects, as when he writes with obvious repulse the case in which a great landlord burned a pregnant native woman alive just because she dared tell his wife about his sexual atrocities. A great book written by an excellent Historian that will sure help me a lot in my own studies for years to come.

[Luciana Freire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Espetacular.