A tale about going up.
Tenda dos Milagres (Tent of Miracles) is a Brazilian book written by Jorge Amado and published in 1968. It talks mostly about the life of Pedro Archanjo, a poor writer from Bahia who is unexpectedly recognized after his death by an American writer. The book also goes on length about traditions from Bahia, as an Author Appeal.
Pedro Archanjo, a mixed man from Salvador, Bahia born in the 19th century, was an amateur anthropologist motivated by his disapproval of the racist atmosphere in Bahian academy at the time, who considered black people an inferior race and unable to produce culture. Pedro Archanjo is also a unrepentant ladies man who fathered more than a dozen kids and never missed a chance to party with his friends, taking from his life's experience to write his books. Despite those contributions, he died penniless in the 1940s.
Later, in the middle of the 20th century, his books are rediscovered by Bahian society after a famous American anthropologist and university professor, James Levenson, mentions his works as having influenced him. Cue multiple celebrations all around Brazil.
Oh, there's also Fausto Pena, an aspiring poet and sociologist who accompanies Levenson and later tries to do a play about Pedro Archanjo, while being completely in love with the journalist Ana Mercedes, who cheats on him constantly.
Tenda dos Milagres has examples of:
- The Ace:
- Pedro Archanjo is master of writing, talking and lovemaking (even having numerous kids with various women).
- Tadeu later becomes this as well, being a very intelligent engineer (even doing a math exam entirely in ten-syllable poetry verses).
- Anachronic Order: The book, after the introduction, starts talking about Pedro Archanjo's death and then goes back and forth on the events of his life. His birth is narrated two thirds into the book.
- Author Appeal:
- The traditions, especially religious, from Bahia are described frequently, a trait of Jorge Amado.
- The book frequently jumps back and forth between past and present, as is common in Jorge Amado's books.
- Best Friend: Lídio Corró is this to Pedro Archanjo, as both consider each other as brothers.
- Birth-Death Juxtaposition: The birth of Pedro Archanjo is narrated just after the circumstances of his dad's, Antonio Archanjo, death on the Paraguayan War.
- Breaking the Fourth Wall:
- The narration of Fausto Pena (the one tasked with researching about Pedro Archanjo's life by the American writer James Levenson) is frequently speaking to the reader.
- So are some parts of Pedro Archanjo's life, like the introduction of Rosa de Oxalá and Tadeu's graduation ceremony.
- Childhood Friend Romance: Between Lu and Tadeu.
- Cool Old Guy: Pedro Archanjo himself, who parties and drinks well into old age.
- Cool Old Lady: Zabela is no slouch either, being a great storyteller and a true friend to Pedro and Lu.
- Cool Teacher: Professor Fraga Neto, for the reasons given below and Professor Silva Virajá (who was friends with Pedro and his students).
- Cunning Linguist: Pedro Archanjo, who speaks not only Portuguese, but also English, French and Italian. He tried to learn German too, but didn't have time to complete his studies.
- Did Not Get the Girl: Pedro Archanjo never acts upon his feelings by Rosa de Oxalá, due to his loyalty to Lídio Corró. It's then revealed, during the wedding of Rosa's daughter, that she always loved him, but she's now leaving forever, not dancing nor going to Candomblé services anymore (to be able to live with her daughter's in-laws). They leave with a parting kiss, the first and last one.
- Dying Alone: Pedro Archanjo dies this way, due to a heart attack he had on the way home, and is only found in the gutter by Major Damião and his friends in the morning. His funeral, however, was attended by practically everyone in Salvador.
- Family Relationship Switcheroo: Tadeu never gets to know Pedro Archanjo is his father, Pedro having been presented by his mother to him as a godfather. His numerous other brothers aren't really aware either.
- Fiery Redhead: Professor Fraga Neto, who arrives to teach in the University, exchanging places with Professor Silva Virajá. It's noted that he is frequently making speeches in the University halls and gets angry very quickly. That makes him one of the students' most beloved teachers.
- Gratuitous French: Courtesy of Zabela, an old Bahian countess who lived partially in Paris.
- Hiding Your Heritage: The traditional families of Bahia have done this for centuries to cover up the existence of black and indigenous family members. This gets blown open after Pedro publishes a book explaining in great detail their family trees. This gets to the point where Pedro and Nilo Argolo are technically related through Bomboxê Oubitkô, an African man. When Pedro finds that out, he exclusively refers to Nilo Argolo as his cousin.
- Hooker with a Heart of Gold: The prostitutes who give Pedro Archanjo a place to sleep on their brothel in his last years and later pay for his funeral arrangements.
- Love Triangle: Happens between Lídio Corró, Pedro Archanjo and Rosa de Oxalá, although the first one never knew about it. Pedro Archanjo loved Rosa and she loved him too, but she was dating Lídio, who was like a brother to him. She doesn't end up with either.
- Magical Realism: The Devil shows up to get back Dorotea, as she was formerly a Succubus.
- Maligned Mixed Marriage: Happens when Tadeu asks Lu's hand in marriage. Her parents, especially her dad, freak out and forbid it because Tadeu is mixed and dark-skinned. They get married anyway, in a small ceremony, and later have kids.
- Massively Numbered Siblings: Pedro Archanjo fathered various kids with different women. One of them being Tadeu.
- Mistaken Nationality: Kirsi is Finnish, not Swedish. This is one of the Running Gags in the book, with the mistake being made even by people in the 60s, when talking about Pedro Archanjo's life.
- No Celebrities Were Harmed: Pedro Archanjo is based on the real writer
Manuel Querino
, who was one of the first ones to acknowledge the African influence on Brazilian traditions as a positive thing.- Professor Nilo Argolo was based on famous Brazilian anthropologist Nina Rodrigues, who considered black people an inferior race, and mixed people as more prone to criminality due to race mixing.
- Pedrito Gordo was based on the cop Pedrito Gordilho, who was also infamous for persecuting Candomblé practitioners and Capoeira fighters.
- Pedro Archanjo and Nilo Argolo's common black ancestor, Bomboxê Oubitkô, seems to be based on Rodolfo Martins de Andrade or Bamboxê Obitikô, who traveled back and forth between Brazil and Africa and had numerous kids.
- Professor Nilo Argolo was based on famous Brazilian anthropologist Nina Rodrigues
- Politically Incorrect Villain:
- Professor Nilo Argolo, a very racist teacher in the Medical course from the Federal University of Bahia, who considers the traditions that came from Africa the scourge of earth and regards African people as subhuman.
- Pedrito Gordo, a cop from Bahia famous for destroying Candomblé services and Capoeira reunions, also persecuting people who practice them (predominantly black people). It's even said that he is the ultimate result of the racist theories that came from the University.
- Preppy Name: Isabel Tereza Martins de Araújo e Pinho, mostly known as Zabela. The name automatically marks her as Bahia high society.
- The same goes for Nilo D'Ávila Argôlo de Araújo.
- Sadistic Choice: The reason why Rosa de Oxalá almost never saw her daughter. The girl's father said he'd only recognize the girl as his if she was raised with his sisters, only seeing Rosa sporadically, because that's what his wife wanted. If Rosa didn't comply, her daughter would be treated as a bastard. This is the reason why she had to see her daughter's wedding from the church's tower, instead of being at the altar with the bride.
- Secret-Keeper: Majé Bassan to Rosa de Oxalá, thanks to being her Mãe de Santonote .
- Starts with Their Funeral: The book starts with Pedro's death and burial and then goes through his life.
- Title Drop: The Tenda dos Milagres note is the place where Lídio Corró (who does religious paintings, called miracles, for a living), Pedro Archanjo (who later helps to open a printing press in it), Rosa de Oxalá and friends reunite to talk, dance and sometimes do business. The book narrates of its creation until the point where it closes permanently.
- World's Most Beautiful Woman:
- Rosa de Oxalá enchants every man that sees her.
- Dorotéia also classifies, if only because she's a Succubus turned into a real woman.
- Zany Scheme: Pedro Archanjo, being extremely intelligent, often accomplished things this way.
