📖 Overview
Laurentino Gomes is a Brazilian journalist and author known for his trilogy of historical non-fiction books about pivotal moments in Brazilian history. His works have sold over two million copies in Brazil, making him one of the country's most successful contemporary non-fiction writers.
His acclaimed trilogy consists of "1808" (about the Portuguese royal family's flight to Brazil), "1822" (covering Brazil's independence), and "1889" (detailing the end of the Brazilian monarchy). These books combine rigorous historical research with accessible narrative storytelling, drawing from both Brazilian and international historical sources.
The author spent three years researching each book in the trilogy, consulting archives and historical documents in Brazil, Portugal, England, and other countries. Prior to his career as a historical author, Gomes worked for nearly three decades as a journalist for major Brazilian publications including Veja magazine.
Gomes has received multiple literary awards for his work, including the Jabuti Prize, Brazil's most prestigious literary award. His books are used as supplementary reading material in many Brazilian schools and universities, contributing to public understanding of Brazilian history.
👀 Reviews
Readers praise Gomes's ability to present complex Brazilian history in clear, engaging language. Many comments highlight how he makes historical events accessible while maintaining academic rigor. Reviewers note his skill at weaving personal stories and small details into broader historical narratives.
What readers liked:
- Clear explanations of complicated political events
- Inclusion of primary sources and documentation
- Balance between academic content and readable prose
- Thorough research from multiple countries' archives
- Relevant connections to modern Brazil
What readers disliked:
- Some find the pacing slow in certain sections
- Occasional repetition of information across books
- Limited coverage of indigenous and African perspectives
Ratings:
Goodreads (Portuguese editions):
- 1808: 4.4/5 (15,000+ ratings)
- 1822: 4.3/5 (8,000+ ratings)
- 1889: 4.4/5 (5,000+ ratings)
Amazon Brazil:
- Average 4.7/5 across all titles
- Over 3,000 verified purchase reviews
Multiple reviewers mention recommending the books to friends who "don't usually read history."
📚 Books by Laurentino Gomes
1808: The Flight of the Emperor
A detailed account of the Portuguese royal family's escape to Brazil in 1808, exploring how the Napoleonic Wars forced the unprecedented relocation of a European court to the Americas and transformed Brazilian society.
1822 Chronicles the complex political events and social dynamics that led to Brazil's independence from Portugal, centered around the pivotal role of Prince Pedro in declaring Brazil's sovereignty.
1889 Examines the fall of Brazil's monarchy and the establishment of the republic, documenting the political intrigues and social changes that ended the reign of Emperor Pedro II and transformed Brazil into a republican state.
1822 Chronicles the complex political events and social dynamics that led to Brazil's independence from Portugal, centered around the pivotal role of Prince Pedro in declaring Brazil's sovereignty.
1889 Examines the fall of Brazil's monarchy and the establishment of the republic, documenting the political intrigues and social changes that ended the reign of Emperor Pedro II and transformed Brazil into a republican state.
👥 Similar authors
Eduardo Bueno writes accessible Brazilian history books focusing on colonial period events and figures, similar to Gomes' research-based narrative approach. He has published multiple works examining the Portuguese arrival in Brazil and early colonial administration, using primary sources while maintaining a journalistic writing style.
Mary Del Priore specializes in Brazilian social history and has written extensively about daily life in colonial and imperial Brazil. Her work combines academic rigor with clear storytelling, covering topics from family life to cultural customs across multiple periods of Brazilian history.
Stuart B. Schwartz produces detailed accounts of colonial Brazil's social and economic structures through archival research. His books examine the sugar plantation economy and slavery in Brazil, providing context for the historical periods covered in Gomes' trilogy.
Kenneth Maxwell focuses on Portuguese-Brazilian relations during the colonial period and independence era. His research covers the same historical events as Gomes' "1808" and "1822," drawing from Portuguese and Brazilian archives to explain the political dynamics of the era.
Evaldo Cabral de Mello writes about northeastern Brazil's colonial period and the Portuguese empire's administration. His books combine detailed archival research with analysis of political and economic systems, examining how Brazil's colonial structures evolved into independent nationhood.
Mary Del Priore specializes in Brazilian social history and has written extensively about daily life in colonial and imperial Brazil. Her work combines academic rigor with clear storytelling, covering topics from family life to cultural customs across multiple periods of Brazilian history.
Stuart B. Schwartz produces detailed accounts of colonial Brazil's social and economic structures through archival research. His books examine the sugar plantation economy and slavery in Brazil, providing context for the historical periods covered in Gomes' trilogy.
Kenneth Maxwell focuses on Portuguese-Brazilian relations during the colonial period and independence era. His research covers the same historical events as Gomes' "1808" and "1822," drawing from Portuguese and Brazilian archives to explain the political dynamics of the era.
Evaldo Cabral de Mello writes about northeastern Brazil's colonial period and the Portuguese empire's administration. His books combine detailed archival research with analysis of political and economic systems, examining how Brazil's colonial structures evolved into independent nationhood.