The art, the players, the myths, the legends, the teams, the history, the fans, the highs and lows: in Futebol Alex Bellos reaches deep into the heart of Brazilian Football. The Brazilian team is one of the modern wonders in the world. At it's best it radiates skill and beauty and has a romantic lure that can not be found with any other sports team. Football symbolises Brazil's racial harmony, but at the same time football is a microcosmos of Brazilian society with all its contrasts.

Alex Bellos writes for The Guardian and The Observer from his Rio de Janeiro base. But he took a year off to write and research this book. The book shows how Brazil changed football, and football changed Brazil. His story of great players like Pel? and Garrincha, great teams and famous matches is full of detail. At the same time he doesn't forget to tell the story of the millions of players in the favelas and on backcountry pitches who form the real secret of Brazil's seemingly everlasting football reign. Read more...

British historian, and occupant of academic chairs on both sides of the Atlantic, Charles R. Boxer has choosen the period between 1695 and 1750 as the subject of his book. This period starts with the first rich findings of gold in Minas Gerais and ends with the death of Dom Jo?o V in 1750 and the subsequent rise to power of the Marquis of Pombal. By this time the production of Brazilian gold was already on the decline.

Boxer has labeled this period the Golden Age because it coincided with the rich findings of gold (and diamonds) in Minas Gerais and later in Mato Grosso and Goi?s. He quotes Robert Southey to make clear that this sudden wealth brought with it no moral melioration, no increase of happiness, and it may be doubted whether it promoted or retarded the progress of the colonies. But it produced a great change in the system of administration, and in the conditions and pursuits of the people. These conditions and pursuits are what interests Boxer. Read more...

The election of Ignacio Lula da Silva as Brazilian president in October 2004 was cheered in Brazil and abroad. In Brazil there was finally hope of social change. Outside Brazil Lula's rags to riches story, combined with the uncertain behaviour of the financial markets should he be elected, led to special interest.

On the wave of optimism following Lula's comfortable second round victory, Sue Branford and Bernardo Kucinsky with help from Hilary Wainwright wrote this book about Lula and his workers' party (Partido dos Trabalhadores, PT). All three of the writers are firmly left wing and start from the assumption that PT is different and better than all other political parties, making a critical analysis impossible. Read more...