Published in 1977 by Clarice Lispector, one of the most prominent figures of Brazilian modernism, The Hour of the Star follows the story of Macabéa, a miserably lonely young woman from the Northeast of Brazil, unaware of her own existence. Orphaned and without dreams or ambitions, she moves to Rio de Janeiro in search of a better life, only to scrape by in a low-paying job while clinging to the smallest scraps of affection. After a heartbreak, driven by naive hope, she turns to a fortune teller—unaware that this decision, in some way, will alter her fate.

Macabéa’s story is not told by her, but by Rodrigo S. M., a tormented writer who takes on the task with clear reluctance and discomfort. He not only creates the character but also wrestles with his own existence, making him almost as much a protagonist as she is. As he narrates Macabéa’s life, he avoids any romanticization, adopting a dry, direct, and deliberately unsettling tone.

With this novel, Lispector crafts a sharp critique of society, exposing poverty, exclusion, and the invisibility of Macabéa—a character whose indifference toward herself mirrors a world that simply discards those it deems unimportant.

The Hour of the Star is an essential read for those who seek to question the role of the individual in society. It is an invitation to discomfort, a reflection on how poverty, lack of opportunity, and intellectual deprivation shape and define human existence.

The Hour of the Star
Written by Clarice Lispector, #NameTheTranslator Giovanni Pontiero (1992) & Benjamin Moser (2011)
1977, Rocco Publishing House
ISBN: 978-8532509123

BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Lispector, Clarice. The Hour of the Star. Rocco, 1977.
Nunes, Benedito. Clarice Lispector: Breath and Risk. Ática Publishing House, 1989.

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Alana is a librarian in training and works as an intern at an international school. Passionate about literature, she favors the classics and has a keen interest in philosophy and history. Beyond books, she is always accompanied by a cup of coffee and her little cat, Matilda.

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