The Devil to Pay in the Backlands by Joao Guimaraes Rosa

1. Introduction

Riobaldo, an old jagunco (bandit) of the Brazilian sertao, tells his life story across 600 pages of hypnotic, invented language. Joao Guimaraes Rosa's The Devil to Pay in the Backlands (1956) is one of the most linguistically inventive novels ever written—a work that bends Portuguese into new shapes to capture a world of jagged beauty and violence.

2. About the Author

Joao Guimaraes Rosa (1908–1967) was a Brazilian novelist, short story writer, and diplomat. Born in Cordisburgo, Minas Gerais, he drew deeply from the folklore, language, and landscapes of the Brazilian interior. A physician by training, he later served as a diplomat in Europe and Latin America. His masterpiece, The Devil to Pay in the Backlands (original title: Grande Sertao: Veredas), took over a decade to write and revolutionized Brazilian literature with its experimental language. Rosa's work is celebrated for its fusion of regionalism with universal philosophical themes.

3. Story Overview

Riobaldo, a former jagunco, recounts his tumultuous life to an unnamed listener, weaving a sprawling narrative that spans decades. The story begins with his youth as a poor boy in the sertao, a vast, arid region of Brazil. He joins a band of jaguncos, outlaws who roam the hinterlands, and quickly rises through the ranks due to his intelligence and bravery. Central to the tale is his intense, ambiguous relationship with Diadorim, a fellow jagunco whose true identity remains hidden until the novel's climax. Riobaldo's love for Diadorim is both a driving force and a source of torment, as he grapples with feelings he cannot fully understand or express.

The plot is structured around Riobaldo's quest for power and meaning, culminating in a fateful pact with the Devil. At a crossroads, he calls upon the Devil for aid in defeating his rival, Hermogenes, and securing leadership of the band. This act haunts him throughout his life, leading to endless speculation about whether the Devil truly exists or if the pact was merely a psychological crutch. The narrative is nonlinear, filled with digressions, philosophical musings, and vivid descriptions of the sertao's harsh beauty. Key scenes include the crossing of the Liso do Sussuarao, a deadly desert, and the final confrontation with Hermogenes, where Diadorim's secret is revealed.

Thematically, the novel explores the nature of good and evil, the fluidity of identity, and the search for meaning in a chaotic world. Rosa's narrative structure mirrors the sertao's labyrinthine paths, with Riobaldo's voice shifting between past and present, certainty and doubt. The sertao itself becomes a character—a place of lawlessness and transcendence, where the boundaries between human and natural, real and supernatural blur. Through Riobaldo's story, Rosa examines the human condition: our need for stories, our fear of the unknown, and our longing for redemption.

4. Key Takeaways

• Language creates worlds: Rosa invents neologisms, archaisms, and rhythms to capture the sertao's essence, showing how language shapes reality.
• The sertao is everywhere and nowhere: The sertao represents a state of mind—a place of lawlessness and possibility that exists within every human.
• The Devil may not exist—and that is the real terror: Riobaldo's doubt about his pact highlights the horror of a universe without absolute evil, where responsibility lies solely with the individual.

5. Why This Book Is a Must Read

The Devil to Pay in the Backlands is a monumental achievement in world literature, comparable to Joyce's Ulysses or Faulkner's The Sound and the Fury. Its linguistic innovation pushes the boundaries of what a novel can do, while its philosophical depth offers endless rewards for careful readers. The story of Riobaldo and Diadorim is one of the most poignant and mysterious love stories ever written, challenging conventional notions of gender and desire. For anyone interested in the power of language, the nature of evil, or the beauty of the Brazilian hinterlands, this book is an essential, transformative experience.