Dona Flor and Her Two Husbands

Aug 25, 2026

Uploaded by Eliana

Dona Flor, newly married, finds happiness with a kind, considerate husband—yet her heart still aches for her former, roguish husband, who died from love and excess. Confronted by miracles and the divine, Flor seeks guidance from Exu and is drawn into an extraordinary situation where two husbands—one alive and one dead—fulfill her desires in different ways. The novel blends bawdy humor, romance, and human warmth.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryStory & Novel

FormatPDF

Pages536

Reading Time13 h 45 min

AccessFree to download

Dona Flor’s dilemma

Her new husband and lingering longing

Exu and the intervention of miracles

Two husbands—living and dead

"POETIC, COMIC, HUMAN!" The Washington Post In this extraordinary adventure by Brazil's foremost novelist, the irrepressible Dona Flor is happy with her new husband, who is kind, considerate, a perfect gentleman. Yet, she has to admit she misses his roguish, passionate predecessor, who expired from his amorous exertions. So, in this land of many gods and occasional miracles, Flor approaches the divine Exu 􀁐ith her dilemma... and before she knows it, she has all any woman could possiblywant: two husbands-one living, one dead-each consummatelyskilled in his own way in the infinite art of love. "BAWDY, BRILLIANT, HUMAN AND HUMOROUS, IT IS FULL OFUNEXPEGED DELIGHTS... EVERYTHING A MODERN NOVEL SHOULD BE!" Denver Post TRANSLATED BY HARRIET DE ON[S ISBN 0-380-75469-X JORGE AMADO was bom in 1912 in llheus. the provincial capital of the state of Bahia, whose society he portrays in such acclaimed novels as Gabriela, Clove and Cinnamon; DONA FLOR AND HER TWO HUSBANDS; and Tereza Batista: Home from the Wars. His father was a cocoa planter, and his first noveL Cacau, published when he was nineteen, is a plea for social justice for the workers on the cocoa estates south of Bahia. The theme of class struggle continues to dominate in his novels of the thirties and forties, but with the fifties and Gabriela. Clove and Cinnamon (1958), the political emphasis gives way to a lighter. more novelistic approach. It was in that noveL published in the United States when Amado was fifty and enthusiastically received in some fourteen countries. that he first explored the rich literary vein pursued in DONA FLOR AND HER TWO HUSBANDS. A highly successful film version of DONA FLOR was produced in Brazil in 1976. Other Avon Books by Jorge Amado CAPTAINS OF THE SANDS GABRIELA, CLOVE AND CINNAMON HOME Is THE SAILOR JUBIABA PEN, SWORD, CAMISOLESEA OF DEATH SHEPHERDS OF THE NIGHT TENT OF MIRACLES TEREZA BATISTA: HOME FROM THE WARS TIETA THE Two DEATHS OF QUINCAS WATERYELL THE VIOLENT LAND DONA FLORAND HER lWO HUSBANDS A moral and amorous tale JORGE AMADO TRANSLATED FROM PORTUGUESE BY HARRIET DE ONis AVON BO. N£Wl0111 Originally published in Portuguese as Dona Flor e seus dois maridos by Livraria Martins Editora, Sao Paulo, Brazil. AVON BOOKS A division of The Hearst Corporation 1350 Avenue of the Americas New York, New York 10019 Copyright ® 1969 by Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. Published by arrangement with Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. Library of Congres Catalog Card Number: 69-10710 ISBN: 0-380-7.5469-X All rights reserved, which includes the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever except as provided by the U.S. Copyright Law. For information address Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., 201 East SOth Street, New York, New York 10022. First Avon Books Trade Printing: May 1988 First Avon Books Mas Market Printing: November 1977 AVON TRADEMARK REG. U.S. PAT. OFF. AND IN OTHER COUNTRIES, MARCA REGISTRADA, HECHO EN U.S.A. Printed in the U.S.A. For Zelia, in the quiet afternoon of gardm and caJs, In the tmder warmth of this April; for Joiio and Paloma, il the mombag of their first books and dreams. For my comadre Norma dos Guimariies Sampaio, who happms tobe one of the characters, 􀁩d whose presence honors and en Uvens these pallid pages. For Beatriz Costa, whom Vadinho sincerely admired. For Eneida, who had the privilege of hearing the National Anthem played on the bassoon by Dr. Teodoro Madureira. For Giovanna Bonino, who owns a painting by the painter Jos􀁵 de Dome-- portrait in ochres 􀁪d yellows of Dona Flor as a girl. Four friends linked here in the affection of the author. For Diaulas Riedel and Lulz Monteiro. "God is fat" JIJ!VELATION BY VADINHO ON ms RETURN "The earth is blue" AF BY GAGAl AFTE.1l THE Fll SPACE FLIGHT "A place for everything and everything in its place" SIGN ON 'IHE WALL OF DR. TEODOilO MADUREIIlA'S PHAIIMACY "Ay" SIGHED DONA FLOil

FAQs

Who is the protagonist and what is her central dilemma?

Dona Flor is content with her new husband, but she still misses her former husband, who died after passionate pursuits.

What role do miracles and the divine play in the story?

In a world of gods and occasional miracles, Flor turns to the divine Exu for her dilemma, leading to an unexpected outcome.

How does the novel structure Dona Flor’s relationships?

Flor ends up with two husbands—one living and one dead—each skilled in love, shaping her experience in distinct ways.

Aug 25, 2026

Uploaded by Eliana