O Triste Fim de Policarpo Quaresma

In a criticism of Brazil's militaristic turn-of-the-century Republic, Barreto tells the story of Policarpo Quaresma, a fanatically-patriotic Major with unusual ideas about what Brazil should be--a tupi-guarani-speaking country with an agriculture-based economy. During the Squadron revolt against the Floriano government, Major Quaresma at first supports the government, but then become disallusioned with it after prisioners in his care are ordered slaughtered.