excerpt
The French culture privileges the droit; the English, fair play; the Spanish, el honor. We Brazilians privilege play. Whatever happens, we play, because for such we can lack everything; all we need it imagination. As the samba says:
With or without tambourine, ê, ê, ê, ê, I play/ With or without money… ê, ê, ê, ê, I play – Pedro Caetano and Claudionor Cruz, 1944.
We can give up the tambourine or money because we are capable of improvising what we desire, making use of whatever is at hand. Brazilians of all classes are experienced in improvisation, which can even be considered a cultural trait.
synopsis
The book portrays Brazil through football. The author penetrates the country, indicating how it has made football into futebol and our players into legendary figures. It shows the relationship between popular Brazilian culture – the culture of play – and the inventive game of which we are capable. To her, we Brazilians are trained from birth for improvising, and playing is the key element of our culture. Betty Milan focused on play to tell us who we are, but also because the area of futebol is democratic and in it the word law makes sense.
history
The first edition of the book, in 1989, was met with great critical acclaim, but was only distributed as a free gift following its launch at Pacaembú Stadium. It was translated into French and released in a pocket edition at the Salon du Livre in Paris, by Les Éditions de l’Aube. In the same year, Record published a bookshop edition that was revised and corrected by Milan. In 2014, the year of the World Cup in Brazil, it was rereleased with a new preface by the author. Before writing it, Milan interviewed French footballer Platini, who told her that Brazil really is the land of football because “it is as important to supporters from all over the world to go to Brazil as it is for Muslims to visit Mecca.”
opinion
BRAZIL
“A successful plunge into the passion of football and an attractive read because of the facility with which the author – a woman, just imagine, outplaying many a man – treats the theme.”
Juca Kfouri, Jornal da Tarde, December 3, 1989
“I read O país da bola, which I consider a text of enormous importance in order for us to understand Brazil and its people.”
Sábato Magaldi, December 12, 1989
“Good at tricky moves, bold feints, Betty Milan give an olé to the prejudices that make some intellectuals (…) disdain football.”
Edilberto Coutinho, Jornal do Brasil, December 23, 1989
“I greatly enjoyed seeing and reading the book; the images are beautiful and the text is excellent.”
Jorge Amado, letter, June 4, 1990
FRANCE
“Reading O país da bola, we understand Betty Milan’s enthusiasm for the champions of her country… Brazilians don’t play, they court the ball.”
Le Nouvel Observateur
“An essay of value especially for the originality of its point of view… A plunge into the origin of the passion for football that makes us discover how it came to spread.”
France Football
PORTUGAL
“A serious work, an in-depth study (…) and the text is a delight.”
Carlos Pinhão, A Bola, April 28, 1990
areas of interest
Psychology, Psychoanalysis, Anthropology, Sociology, Brazilian Studies.
critical reaction
where to purchase
Livraria Cultura (portuguese – printed) | Saraiva (portuguese – printed)