The Apprentice Tourist

The first English translation of the queer mulatto "pope" of Brazilian modernism's humorous account of a three-month voyage to the Amazon that prompts him to rethink his ingrained Eurocentrism, explore Indigenous cultures, and struggle to put into words the grandeur of the now-endangered landscape

A Penguin Classic

"My life's done a somersault," wrote Mário de Andrade. After years of dreaming about Amazonia, he finally embarked on a three-month odyssey up the great river and into the wild heart of Brazil with a group of modernist luminaries. All abandoned ship but a socialite, her two nieces, and, of course, the author himself. Thus begins the humorous account of Andrade's steamboat adventure into one of the most dangerous and breathtakingly beautiful corners of the world. Rife with shrewd observations and sparkling wit, his sarcastic, down-to-earth diary entries not only offer comedic and awe-inspiring details of life and the landscape but also trace his internal metamorphosis: his travels challenge received narratives about the Amazon, altering the way he understands his motherland and the vast diversity of cultures found within it.
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