Originally published by Companhia das Letras, it was translated into English by Alison Entrekin in 2004.
It is among the best-known literary works by Buarque, and was widely praised by critics upon its appearance.
The Guardian reviewer Robert Collins compared it to a "perfectly cut gem", while the Independent called it a "magnificent, ambitious project".
Apart from English, it has been translated into many other languages including Italian, Greek, French, German, Dutch, and Korean.
[3] The plot deals with the travails of a Rio de Janeiro ghostwriter called Jose Costa who is struggling with the demands of work and family while simultaneously being fascinated by a chance encounter with the Hungarian language.