Buarque_Chico_My-German-Brother-1
2020 Nominated

My German Brother

Translated from the Portuguese
artwork-image

ABOUT
THE BOOK

Ciccio already has many problems: romantic failure, an older brother who seems intent on breaking the heart of every beautiful woman in Sao Paulo, a distant and larger-than-life father. When Ciccio finds, among the many of his father’s books that line the walls of their house, a troubling letter dated ‘December 21, 1931. Berlin’, his existential crisis only intensifies.
It seems that his father once had a child with another woman – a German son whose fate remains unclear. Ciccio sets out on a mission to locate his lost half-brother, and to win the respect of his father. But as Brazil’s military government cracks down on dissent, and rumours of arrests and disappearances spread, while Ciccio has been out looking for his German brother, he finds that he has taken his eye off his immediate family . . .

 

ABOUT
THE AUTHOR Chico
Buarque

Born 1944 in Rio de Janeiro, Chico Buarque, is a singer, guitarist, composer, dramatist, writer and poet. Although he first made his name as a musician, in 1968 Buarque was imprisoned by the Brazilian dictatorship for writing and composing the existential play Roda Viva. During the 1970s and 1980s, he collaborated with other atists in protest against the dictatorship. He is the author of numerous novels; in 2010 Spilt Milk won both of Brazil’s leading literary prizes, the Prêmio Jabuti and the Prêmio Portugal Telecom. He lives in Rio de Janeiro.

Born 1944 in Rio de Janeiro, Chico Buarque, is a singer, guitarist, composer, dramatist, writer and poet. Although he first made his name as a musician, in 1968 Buarque was imprisoned by the Brazilian dictatorship for writing and composing the existential play Roda Viva. During the 1970s and 1980s, he collaborated with other atists in protest against the dictatorship. He is the author of numerous novels; in 2010 Spilt Milk won both of Brazil’s leading literary prizes, the Prêmio Jabuti and the Prêmio Portugal Telecom. He lives in Rio de Janeiro.

ABOUT
THE TRANSLATOR Alison
Entrekin

Alison Entrekin is an Australian literary translator known for her translations of Brazilian and Portuguese literature into English. She has translated over forty books, including works by Chico Buarque, Paulo Lins, José Mauro de Vasconcelos, Cristóvão Tezza, and Clarice Lispector.

Alison Entrekin is an Australian literary translator known for her translations of Brazilian and Portuguese literature into English. She has translated over forty books, including works by Chico Buarque, Paulo Lins, José Mauro de Vasconcelos, Cristóvão Tezza, and Clarice Lispector.

NOMINATING LIBRARY COMMENTS

Chico Buarque is at the forefront of a new wave of writing that should make you rethink everything you thought you knew about South American literature.

Biblioteca Demonstrativa Maria da Conceição Moreira Salles, Brazil

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Country
Argentina
Original Language
Portuguese
Author
Publisher
Picador
Translator
Alison Entrekin
Translation
Translated from the Portuguese

RELATED FEATURES

News March 11 2026

Translator Spotlight: Jo Heinrich

Jo Heinrich reflects on translating the 2023 Dublin Literary Award winner Marzahn, Mon Amour and life as a literary translator.
News February 17 2026

2026 Dublin Literary Award Longlist is Revealed

Delve into the 20 novels longlisted this year.
Video December 31 2025

Bidding farewell on our 30 Years Anniversary Year

Let's take a look back at some highlights from past years.
News November 19 2025

2026 Nominations Revealed

69 titles have been nominated by 80 libraries from 36 countries for the 2026 Award

STAY CONNECTED

Stay in touch and sign up to our newsletter to receive all the latest news and updates on the Dublin Literary Award.