Crimes of August: A Novel

To readers of Crimes of August in English

To readers of crimes of august in English: The novel blends historical fact (the assassination attempt against Carlos Lacerda, resulting in the death of Air Force Major Rubens Vaz; the political plot to depose President Getúlio Vargas) with a fictional murder (the death of entrepreneur Paulo Gomes Aguiar). It takes place in Rio de Janeiro, then the nation’s capital, during the period of August 1–25, 1954. The three political parties of the era were: PSD (Social Democratic Party): Vargas supporters PTB (Brazilian Workers Party): Vargas supporters UDN (National Democratic Union): the major opposition party Historical Figures Getúlio Vargas, president of Brazil Carlos Lacerda (“the Crow”), Vargas’s archenemy Gregório Fortunato (“the Black Angel”), head of the president’s personal guard Fictional Characters Alberto Mattos, a police inspector Alice Lomagno, Mattos’s onetime girlfriend Salete Rodrigues, Mattos’s current girlfriend Pedro Lomagno, Alice’s husband The political figures depicted are real, with the exception of Senator Vitor Freitas and Luiz Magalhães, who are composites. Cemtex, Brasfesa, and Corpax are fictional firms. ...