Quincas Borba

Published in 1891, Quincas Borba is one of the masterpieces of Brazilian Realism and perhaps Machado de Assis's most scathing critique of human nature and the illusions of progress. Continuing the psychological universe begun in *Posthumous Memoirs of Brás Cubas*, the novel delves deeper into the moral and social contradictions of the 19th century, presenting characters who, more than just living, philosophize and rave about life. At the center of the plot is Rubião, heir to the fortune and ideas of his eccentric friend Quincas Borba—creator of the famous and ironic motto: "To the victor, the potatoes." Naive and idealistic, Rubião moves to Rio de Janeiro carrying with him his mentor's money and philosophy, but ends up entangled in the vanity, ambition, and hypocrisy of bourgeois society. Between Sofia's seduction and Palha's opportunism, the protagonist loses himself in illusions and disillusionments, until his mind—fragile and poetic—gives way to delirium and madness. Machado de Assis, with his elegant and cutting prose, constructs a refined satire on power, morality, and insanity. In Quincas Borba, laughter and tragedy merge: the absurd philosophy of "Humanism"—a brilliant parody of the scientific and optimistic doctrines of his time—reveals itself as a cruel metaphor for the human condition. Man, trapped in the pursuit of glory and wealth, is portrayed as a being who destroys and destroys himself, always believing in his own rationality. This revised and adapted digital edition respects Machado's period style but offers fluidity and clarity to the contemporary reader. Ideal for students, researchers, and literature lovers, this version brings the classic to the palm of your hand, preserving its aesthetic and philosophical value, yet offering an accessible and modern reading experience. Quincas Borba is more than a novel about madness and inheritance: it is a mirror of human vanity, a treatise on the illusory nature of victory, and a work that remains alive for its irony and timeliness. Purchase the digital edition of Quincas Borba now and immerse yourself in the genius of Machado de Assis—the absolute master of irony and the Brazilian soul.

Prueba 25 horas gratis

  • Lee y escucha hoy
  • Sin compromiso, cancela cuando quieras
Pruébalo gratis ahora

Convierte cada momento en una aventura

  • Cientos de miles de historias en tu bolsillo
  • Sin compromiso, cancela cuando quieras
Pruébalo gratis ahora
Mujer sonriente mirando por la ventana de un tren, con auriculares y sosteniendo su teléfono

Empieza hoy con este libro por 0 €

  • Disfruta de acceso completo a todos los libros de la app durante el periodo de prueba
  • Sin compromiso, cancela cuando quieras
Pruébalo gratis ahora
Más de 52 000 clientes han dado a Nextory 5 estrellas en la App Store y Google Play.

  1. Gran Libro de los Mejores Cuentos - Volumen 5

    Ryunosuke Akutagawa, Ambrose Bierce, Mijaíl Bulgákov, Lewis Carroll, Arthur Conan Doyle, James Joyce, Franz Kafka, H.P. Lovecraft, Machado de Assis, Guy De Maupassant, August Nemo

    book
  2. Gigantesco Libro de los Mejores Cuentos - Volume 1

    Antón Chéjov, Abraham Valdelomar, Antonio de Trueba, Baldomero Lillo, César Vallejo, Edgar Allan Poe, Emilia Pardo Bazán, Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer, Horacio Quiroga, Joaquín Dicenta, José Martí, José Ortega Munilla, Juan Valera, Julia de Asensi, Leopoldo Alas, Leopoldo Lugones, Oscar Wilde, Ricardo Güiraldes, Roberto Payró, Soledad Acosta De Samper, Vicente Blasco Ibáñez, Washington Irving, Alfred de Musset, Saki (H.H. Munro), Émile Zola, Villiers l'Isle de Adam, Mark Twain, Ryunosuke Akutagawa, Ambrose Bierce, Lewis Carroll, Arthur Conan Doyle, James Joyce, Franz Kafka, H.P. Lovecraft, Machado de Assis, Guy De Maupassant, August Nemo

    book
  3. Posthumous Memories of Bras Cubas

    Machado de Assis

    book
  4. Aires Memorial

    Machado de Assis

    book
  5. 7 best short stories - Black Authors

    Frederick Douglass, Alice Dunbar-Nelson, Charles W. Chesnutt, Paul Laurence Dunbar, Machado de Assis, Alexandre Dumas, Frances Harper, Pauline E. Hopkins, Booker T. Washington, Lucy Terry, Phillis Wheatley, Jupiter Hammon, August Nemo

    book
  6. Dom Casmurro

    Machado de Assis

    book
  7. The Looking-Glass : Essential Stories

    Machado de Assis

    book
  8. Brazilian Tales

    Carmen Dolores, Machado de Assis, Medeiros Albuquerque, Henrique Coelho Netto

    book
  9. Don Casmurro, de Machado de Assis

    Machado de Assis

    book
  10. Mémoires posthumes de Braz Cubas

    Machado de Assis

    book
  11. 7 mejores cuentos de Machado de Assis

    Machado de Assis, August Nemo

    book