His Own Man

The eighth novel from Brazilian author Ribeiro (I Would Have Loved Him, If I Had Not Killed Him) is a disturbing tale of diplomatic duplicity in South America that covers the 1960s through the 2000s, concentrating most closely on the dirty wars of the 1970s. Drawing on his personal experience as diplomat, Ribeiro brings color and authenticity to this cautionary tale. The unnamed narrator, a member of Brazil’s Foreign Ministry, observes Marcílio Andrade Xavier, known to everyone as Max, take on various embassy and consulate postings throughout South America while spying on friends and enemies alike. Max divests himself of any vestiges of youthful idealism, mastering the art of intrigue and adapting easily to dramatic political shifts. He betrays his own countrymen, helps to destabilize the governments of Uruguay and Chile, leaks sensitive information to discredit a rival, and treats his wife and children with cold detachment. As the narrator points out, Max is the perfect diplomat for an era in which military coups and Cold War power plays rendered democracy expendable. This novel offers a fascinating look at South American politics and revolution while simultaneously anatomizing a man without a soul. (Sept.)