Machado versus Eça versus Eça via Machado: some doubtful lights onto Primo Basílio

Abstract

A highly discrediting paper was written by Machado de Assis on Eça de Queirós’s novel, O primo Basílio. However, this Brazilian writer gives some interesting clues about the novel. His criticism involves several topics, such as: the realism of the novel, the character’s motivations, eroticism and others. All of them may rouse, in accordance or divergence with Machado’s interpretation, many subjects for the understanding of O primo Basílio. Besides, the reader, according to Machado’s text, has a chance to evaluate how the author’s literary work has changed with time, as well as the affinities and differences between Machado and Eça’s works.