Lost Samba

"Lost Samba" unfolds the captivating saga of a family navigating the cultural and societal tides of post-war in the unexpected setting of Rio de Janeiro. Born to an odd couple - Rafael, a Polish Jew with the scars of the Holocaust, and Renée, a vibrant Englishwoman - the author's tale is one of identity, belonging, and coming of age against the backdrop of Brazil's transformative decades.

In the glitter of 1950s Copacabana, a foreign boy discovers a Brazil far beyond his parents' Eurocentric views. Through interactions with Brazilian everyday people and the streets' vibrant life, he discovers the country's multifaceted nature. He identifies with its culture through music and football, despite the clash with his parents' aspirations for social ascent.

The narrative, set in the colourful and tumultuous 1970s, captures a generation's quest for freedom amidst global and local upheavals, from the Vietnam War to Latin America's military dictatorships. The author's journey through Brazil's alternative scenes and the northeastern hinterlands reflects a personal and national search for identity during the country's democratisation in the 1980s.

With self-irony, humour, and lyrical reflections, "Lost Samba" delves into the joys, struggles, and existential questions of youth set against a politically charged era. It's a story of confronting familial expectations, societal changes, and the universal quest for a sense of belonging, proving that the more personal our stories, the more universally they resonate.