The Divine Canary
Encyclopedia
The Divine Canary is a Dutch language
book written by August Willemsen
, which describes the history of Brazil
ian soccer
. It was published in 1994, just before the Football World Cup 1994 in the United States
, a world cup that would be won by Brazil.
”Our Father, who art in Heaven, let all Women of this world abandon this Sinner, but do not allow, my Lord, that Cruzeiro scores the equalizing goal.”. August Willemsen, a professional translator of Portuguese, writes about the history of soccer in Brazil, not only in terms of games and statistics, but as the quotation shows, also about how it is experienced by Brazilian fans: simultaneoulsy a feeling of joy, and of torture, and about the sometimes supernatural role of soccer in Brazilian society.
The book has a picture of the graffity after Garrincha
's death: Obrigado, Garrincha, por você ter vivido ("Thanks, Garrincha, for having lived").
-stadium to Uruguay
. This “fateful final” was a traumatic experience for a whole generation of Brazilians. The 1950 team played in white jerseys. After this traumatic final, the color of the jerseys of the national team were changed to yellow (in exceptional cases they play in blue, as for example in the final against Sweden in 1958). Since playing in yellow the team is affectionately called “the Canaries”.
The title of the book, The Divine Canary, consists of the nickname for the players, combined with “divine”, indicating the status of soccer players in Brazilian society. Also the title shows a subtle association with The Divine Comedy
of Dante
: a combination of hell, fire and heaven.
, which Brazil would eventually win. The championship triggered a worldwide revival of interest in Brazilian soccer. In the Netherlands soccer fans consulted the book to learn as much as possible about Brazilian soccer. Many people, born after 1970, suddenly became Brazil experts. Sport reporters could quote the offensive line-up of 1958 by heart: (Garrincha
, Didi, Vavá
, Pelé
, Zagallo
).
When a new right-wing player joined soccer club Ajax Amsterdam
, a club-manager made the dubious comment: “he reminds me of Garrincha” (possibly due to his need for alcohol?). In Dutch everyday language, soccer fans have generally adopted the name “Divine Canaries” for the Brazilian soccer team .
Dutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
book written by August Willemsen
August Willemsen
August Willemsen was a Dutch translator of Portuguese and Brazilian literature. He also published essays, diaries and letters...
, which describes the history of Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian soccer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
. It was published in 1994, just before the Football World Cup 1994 in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, a world cup that would be won by Brazil.
Summary
The book opens with the quotation from Brazilian novelist Roberto DrummondRoberto Drummond
Roberto Francis Drummond was a Brazilian journalist and writer.-Works:*A morte de DJ em Paris *O dia em que Ernest Hemingway morreu crucificado *Sangue de coca-cola...
”Our Father, who art in Heaven, let all Women of this world abandon this Sinner, but do not allow, my Lord, that Cruzeiro scores the equalizing goal.”. August Willemsen, a professional translator of Portuguese, writes about the history of soccer in Brazil, not only in terms of games and statistics, but as the quotation shows, also about how it is experienced by Brazilian fans: simultaneoulsy a feeling of joy, and of torture, and about the sometimes supernatural role of soccer in Brazilian society.
Content
Willemsen describes in the various chapters the clubs (started by European immigrants, initially as a trendy English game for the wealthy), the players (called "the Canaries") and the fans, who are called “the tortured” (Portuguese: “torcedor”). Meanwhile it presents an overview of the Brazilian soccer, which has so impressed the world in the years 1958-1970, i.e. the years with Pele, but not only him. After the book was published, Brazil won the World Cup, which began the second period of Brazilian soccer supremacy (1994–present).The book has a picture of the graffity after Garrincha
Garrincha
Manuel Francisco dos Santos , known by the nickname "Garrincha" , was an association football right winger and forward who helped the Brazil national team win the World Cups of 1958 and 1962. He played the majority of his professional career for Brazilian club Botafogo.The word garrincha itself...
's death: Obrigado, Garrincha, por você ter vivido ("Thanks, Garrincha, for having lived").
Thoughts regarding the title
During the tournament for the Football World Cup 1950 Brazil played at home, and lost the final and the World Cup in its MaracanãEstádio do Maracanã
The Estádio do Maracanã , officially Estádio Jornalista Mário Filho, is an open-air stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Owned by the Rio de Janeiro State Government, it is named after the Maracanã neighbourhood in Rio de Janeiro. It was opened in 1950 to host the FIFA World Cup, and in the final...
-stadium to Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
. This “fateful final” was a traumatic experience for a whole generation of Brazilians. The 1950 team played in white jerseys. After this traumatic final, the color of the jerseys of the national team were changed to yellow (in exceptional cases they play in blue, as for example in the final against Sweden in 1958). Since playing in yellow the team is affectionately called “the Canaries”.
The title of the book, The Divine Canary, consists of the nickname for the players, combined with “divine”, indicating the status of soccer players in Brazilian society. Also the title shows a subtle association with The Divine Comedy
The Divine Comedy
The Divine Comedy is an epic poem written by Dante Alighieri between 1308 and his death in 1321. It is widely considered the preeminent work of Italian literature, and is seen as one of the greatest works of world literature...
of Dante
Dante Alighieri
Durante degli Alighieri, mononymously referred to as Dante , was an Italian poet, prose writer, literary theorist, moral philosopher, and political thinker. He is best known for the monumental epic poem La commedia, later named La divina commedia ...
: a combination of hell, fire and heaven.
Importance of the book
The book was published just prior to the 1994 FIFA World Cup1994 FIFA World Cup
The 1994 FIFA World Cup, the 15th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in nine cities across the United States from June 17 to July 17, 1994. The United States was chosen as the host by FIFA on July 4, 1988...
, which Brazil would eventually win. The championship triggered a worldwide revival of interest in Brazilian soccer. In the Netherlands soccer fans consulted the book to learn as much as possible about Brazilian soccer. Many people, born after 1970, suddenly became Brazil experts. Sport reporters could quote the offensive line-up of 1958 by heart: (Garrincha
Garrincha
Manuel Francisco dos Santos , known by the nickname "Garrincha" , was an association football right winger and forward who helped the Brazil national team win the World Cups of 1958 and 1962. He played the majority of his professional career for Brazilian club Botafogo.The word garrincha itself...
, Didi, Vavá
Vavá
Vavá, real name Edvaldo Izídio Neto, was an association footballer who is widely considered one of the best strikers of his generation. His nickname was "Peito de Aço"...
, Pelé
Pelé
However, Pelé has always maintained that those are mistakes, that he was actually named Edson and that he was born on 23 October 1940.), best known by his nickname Pelé , is a retired Brazilian footballer. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time...
, Zagallo
Mário Zagallo
Mário Jorge Lobo Zagallo is a Brazilian former football player and manager.-Biography:Mário Jorge Lobo Zagallo was born in Maceió, Alagoas, to a family of Lebanese and Italian heritage....
).
When a new right-wing player joined soccer club Ajax Amsterdam
Ajax Amsterdam
Amsterdamsche Football Club Ajax , also referred to as AFC Ajax, Ajax Amsterdam or simply Ajax , is a professional football club from Amsterdam, Netherlands...
, a club-manager made the dubious comment: “he reminds me of Garrincha” (possibly due to his need for alcohol?). In Dutch everyday language, soccer fans have generally adopted the name “Divine Canaries” for the Brazilian soccer team .