''Tieta'' ( Portuguese: ''Tieta do Agreste'', lit. "''Tieta from Agreste''") is a

novel A novel is an extended work of narrative fiction usually written in prose and published as a book. The word derives from the for 'new', 'news', or 'short story (of something new)', itself from the , a singular noun use of the neuter plural of ...

written by the Brazilian author

Jorge Amado Jorge Amado ( 10 August 1912 – 6 August 2001) was a Brazilian writer of the modernist school. He remains the best-known of modern Brazilian writers, with his work having been translated into some 49 languages and popularized in film, includi ...

, published on August 17, 1977. Set in the 1970s, it narrates the return of Tieta to the remote village of Santana do Agreste, 26 years after being beaten and expelled by her father in front of all the town's people.

Background

Written mainly in Buraquinho Beach, Lauro de Freitas, close to Salvador,

Brazil Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South America. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by area, fifth-largest country by area and the List of countries and dependencies by population ...

, and concluded in

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

in mid-1977, Tieta lives up to its full title: "''Tieta the Goat Girl or The Return of The Prodigal Daughter, A Melodramatic Serial Novel in Five Sensational Episodes with a Touching Epilogue: Thrills and Suspense!''" The book is one of the author's longest narratives and follows the story's protagonist through three decades. In the work of Jorge Amado, the novel falls between those books that, in novelistic tone, chronicle the times and customs, without losing sight of social and political criticism. Published during the period of Brazil's military regime, the plot anticipates issues that would become central in the life of the country, such as concern for the environment and criticism of power relations guided by favoritism and corruption. With her impetuosity and questioning spirit, Tieta joined the gallery of the author's great female characters, alongside Gabriela, Dona Flor and Tereza Batista.

Plot introduction

Banished for promiscuity at the age of 17, Antonieta (Tieta) returns from

São Paulo São Paulo (; ; Portuguese for 'Paul the Apostle, Saint Paul') is the capital of the São Paulo (state), state of São Paulo, as well as the List of cities in Brazil by population, most populous city in Brazil, the List of largest cities in the ...

to her native village in the Agreste in

Bahia Bahia () is one of the 26 Federative units of Brazil, states of Brazil, located in the Northeast Region, Brazil, Northeast Region of the country. It is the fourth-largest Brazilian state by population (after São Paulo (state), São Paulo, Mina ...

twenty-six years later. Thinking she is now a rich, respectable widow, her family and the village welcome her with open arms. But she is forced to reveal her true identity, as the Madam of São Paulo's best brothel, in order to save Agreste's beaches from an ugly and polluting factory development by calling on assistance from her well-connected clients.

In the media

*In 1989, a television version was made with Betty Faria in the main role. *In 1996, a film version was made with

Sônia Braga Sônia Maria Campos Braga (; born 8 June 1950) is a Brazilian actress. She is known in the English-speaking world for her Golden Globe Award–nominated performances in ''Kiss of the Spider Woman (1985 film), Kiss of the Spider Woman'' (1985) a ...

in the role of Tieta.

References

External links

1977 Brazilian novels Novels by Jorge Amado 1996 films Brazilian drama films Portuguese-language novels Brazilian novels adapted into films Novels set in São Paulo Novels set in Bahia 1990s Brazilian films {{Brazil-arts-stub