Mário de Andrade and Oswald de Andrade (São Paulo, 1893-1945 / 1890-1954) were the intellectual pillars of the modernist revolution in Brazilian literature and art. On the eve of the centenary of the Modern Art Week of 1922 and with the generous support of the Brazilian Embassy in Mexico, Alias delivers to its public a package that commemorates the starting point of Brazilian modernism. Resaca tropical rescues two essential poetic works of the movement: Paulicea desvariada by Mário de Andrade –also one hundred years after its publication– and Pau-Brasil (1925) by Oswald de Andrade, together with his incendiary Manifesto antropófago (1928), where he adds the wonderful Tarsila do Amaral in her capacity as illustrator. Translated into Spanish by Rafael Toriz in a facsimile type design that preserves the essence of the original editions, these works are a tribute from the devourers of the present to the cannibals of the past: Tupi or not tupi (or how to conceive under another sky the gospel of our lord Xipe Tótec).

“The irruption of a book like Paulicea desvariada marks a definitive before and after in Latin American literature. And it does so not only because of the obvious link between the written language and popular speech, but, essentially, because of a deep need for intellectual independence with respect to European schemes.”

“Pau-Brasil is a book of criminal beauty, similar to a point-blank shot at a mythological beast that reveals, behind the crime, the crouching languages that beat under Brazilian Portuguese.”

– “Against all importers of canned consciousness. The palpable existence of life. And the pre-logical mentality for Mr. Lévy-Bruhl to study.”

OA