A Gazelle's Paw

Set in nineteenth-century Rio de Janeiro, A Gazelle's Paw is a sparkling Brazilian classic of romance, irony, and social observation. When the wealthy Horácio becomes captivated by a single lost slipper, he imagines an ideal woman from that tantalizing clue alone. But as he pursues the beautiful Amélia, he finds himself opposed by Leopoldo, a man whose love is rooted not in fantasy, but in character and feeling. First published in 1870, the novel turns a Cinderella-like premise into a sharp, elegant story about vanity, desire, appearances, and the difference between superficial fascination and genuine devotion.
With wit, charm, and emotional precision, José de Alencar crafts a courtship novel that is both entertaining and quietly incisive. Beneath its grace and lightness lies a modern question: do we love people as they are, or as we imagine them to be? This edition invites new readers into one of the finest urban romances of Brazilian literature.