Amado, Jorge, << ah MAH doh, ZHAWR zhay >> (1912-2001), was a Brazilian novelist. Amado was born on Aug. 10, 1912, in Ilheus in the state of Bahia, along the northeastern coast of Brazil. He wrote mainly about the people of Brazil’s lower classes living in his native region, especially the area around the port of Salvador. In a style that is both poetic and realistic, he used the language of these people to portray their infectious zest for life.
Before 1958, Amado wrote essentially Marxist novels, such as Jubiaba (1935) and The Violent Land (1942), which reflected his sympathy for victims of social injustice. Between 1937 and 1952, he was exiled several times because of his political views. Beginning with Gabriela, Clove and Cinnamon (1958), he wrote in a more sophisticated style that emphasized satirical humor. Many critics regard The Two Deaths of Quincas Wateryell (1961) as his masterpiece.
Amado made an important contribution to Brazilian literature by becoming the first major writer to praise his nation’s extensive African heritage. This theme dominates one of his finest works, Tent of Miracles (1969). Among his other novels are Dona Flor and Her Two Husbands (1966), Tieta (1977), Pen, Sword, Camisole (1979), Showdown (1984), and The War of the Saints (1993). Amado died on Aug. 6, 2001.
