1808

I do not normally like to read a book when everybody is reading. I feel a bit unnoriginal. Today, however, I bought the book which is in the first place on sales ranking for about three months already here in Brazil. On my defence, it is a very interesting book, made by a renowed and good journalist, called laurentino Gomes.

The title, "1808", refers to the year when the portuguese royal family, including the king, moved from Portugal to Brazil, running away from Napoleon's army, which was invading Portugal, as it did all over Europe. It was the first time an european monarch came to America and it represented a large step in both Brazilian development and underdevelopment, since many of the countrie's corrupt and unefficient habits find their roots in 1808.

Actually, the fact is that the portuguese royal family is seen here as a joke (they do deserve such fame), but it is also acknowledged that despite the land of Brazil have been discovered in 1500, the country at it is was "invented" in 1808. I read only the first chapter until now. It has been very intersting and really fun.