Salvador de Mendonça (1841-1913), one of the most distinguished Brazilians of his era, was educated first in Rio and then at the São Paulo Law School. Interrupting his legal studies for a brief period of journalism and teaching in Rio, he returned to São Paulo, received his degree, and entered polities as a Liberal, becoming the secretary of Saldanha Marinho, then president of the province. After the overthrow of the Liberals in 1868, he turned Republican and was one of the founders of the party. He collaborated with Quintino Bocayuva on both the Manifesto of 1870 and the first A República. In 1875, he began a new career with the appointment as Consul in New York, where he remained until he became the Republic’s first Minister to Washington. Later he was transferred to Lisbon. When the Brazilian Senate refused to confirm the transfer, largely because of his support of Floriano Peixoto in the Naval Revolt, and his brother’s quarrel with Prudente de Morais, he returned to Brazil. In retirement he devoted himself to writing, and was a member of the Academy. He became increasingly critical of the foreign policy of Rio Branco, and of the gradual deterioration of political morality.
This volume written by a collateral descendant, while respectful of its subject, does not indulge in the pious approach so often used in Brazilian works of this kind. Nor is the reader burdened with elaborate genealogies stretching in all directions. It is a minute, unpretentious, and informative biography which should prove indispensable for those interested in the epoch.
The work is based on the subject’s private papers. Unfortunately, although there are copious quotations and many internal references, there is not a single citation. It is, however, the reviewer’s understanding that, after the author had used the manuscripts which are not in his possession, he was forbidden to employ the normal scholarly apparatus because of family differences. This is unfortunate, and until the papers appear in a public depository, one will have to trust (and there is no reason why one should not) the author. The volume is terminated by bibliographies of and on the subject.
