THE DEVIL TO PAY IN THE BACKLANDS: "The Devil in the Street in the Middle of the Whirlwind."
Edition: First US printing.
New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1963. dj. Hardcover first edition - An attractive copy of this scarce book, the only novel by Rosa, acclaimed as both the greatest Brazilian novel, and as one of the 100 best books of all time. The long and complex story is told in one continuous narrative, with no chapter breaks, by Ribaldo, now an old man and a rancher, but formerly a bandit in the impoverished high altitude wetlands of the Sertao region. Originally published in Brazil in 1963 under the title "Grande Sertao: Veredas" and here translated from the Portuguese by James L. Taylor and Harriet de Onis. Introduction by Jorge Amado in which he calls this "one of the greatest books our literature has produced. . brutal, tender, cordial, savage, vast as Brazil itself." Includes a glossary of Brazilian terms. x, 494 pp.
Condition: Very near fine in a green cloth with gilt and red lettering on the spine, darker green designs, in a very good dustjacket with a bit of wear to the ends of the spine, rubbing on the folds, slight toning to the spine of the dj. The red tinting on the top edge is bright, with the original price of 5.95 on dj flap.