Originally published in 1890, The Tenement (O Cortiço) is a landmark of Brazilian Naturalism and one of the most important novels in Brazilian literature. Written by Aluísio Azevedo, it offers an unflinching portrait of life in a late 19th-century Rio de Janeiro tenement - a space where poverty, ambition, prejudice, and survival intertwine.
The story follows João Romão, a Portuguese immigrant who starts as the owner of a small shop and, through ruthless exploitation and manipulation, builds a tenement populated by a wide range of marginalized characters: Afro-Brazilians, mixed-race laborers, poor white workers, women navigating the constraints of gender and class, and others living on the fringes of a society shaped by slavery, capitalism, and colonial legacies.
More than a simple narrative about individual lives, The Tenement is a sharp social commentary. Azevedo dissects the dynamics of race, class, gender, and power with brutal honesty, reflecting the Naturalist belief that human behavior is shaped by environment, heredity, and social conditions. The novel exposes how systemic inequality, racism, and the violence of poverty permeate every aspect of urban life.
At once a historical document and a literary masterpiece, The Tenement captures a pivotal moment in Brazil's history - on the brink of the abolition of slavery and the transition to the republic. Its themes remain strikingly relevant today, resonating in any society grappling with inequality, social injustice, and the consequences of unchecked ambition.
This edition, published by Editora Modelo, presents a new English translation that remains faithful to the tone, rhythm, and intensity of the original text. It includes an introduction, iconographic supplements, and a map that help contextualize the novel for contemporary readers.
