O Corti?o (Classicos Da Literatura Brasileira)

Representing the height of Brazilian Naturalism, O Corti?o is Aluísio Azevedo's critique of unchecked ambition in Brazilian society of his day. Jo?o Rom?o, an imigrant Portuguese man, builds a tenement (Corti?o) on the money and work of his mulatto lover, Bertoleza. The tenement's residents fight with those of another tenement, leading to a fire that destroys much of the building. But Rom?o rebuilds and is soon wealthy and looks to marry an educated woman, leaving Bertoleza, who kills herself.