Samba » (Reprint)

For one year, Alma Guillermoprieto lived in Manguiera, a village near Rio de Janeiro, to learn the ritual of samba—the sensuous song and dance marked by a rapturous beat—and to take part in Rio's renowned carnivale parade.

Publishers Weekly

Black Orpheus springs to life in this description of Rio de Janeiro's annual carnival. Viewers of the famous foreign film will recall the thousands of costumed dancers and musicians who plan, design and practice for the lengthy displays in carnival parades. In depicting the slum people of Rio who prepare for the annual samba competition, Guillermoprieto, formerly Newsweek 's South American bureau chief, vividly presents the individual stories of principal participants, analyzes the feelings they express in their music and dance, describes the contributions of the various samba schools and offers his interpretation of black Brazilian history and culture. (Feb.)