This book undoubtedly has a place in Brazilian literature as one of the most important works of fiction produced in the 1970s. Here Scliar creates a classic character, Captain Birobidjan, who is a fearless hero of a new world, a fanatical preacher of utopias, and a solitary and hopeful navigator of a sea of indifference.
The One-Man Army captivates readers with its agile, precise narrative, built around shifts in time, where the fiction is constantly enveloped in a fantastic atmosphere. Moacyr Scliar’s bitter humor hovers over this beautiful book. The saga of Birobidjan, the solitary preacher of a better world, his mad, quixotic humanism, and his magical dreams make this book an emotional and unforgettable read.