Sea of Death describes the sea's unconquerable mysteries and the robust yearnings of seafaring men -- a world of storms and smugglers, of reckless passion and star-crossed love

JORGE AMADO (1912-2001), son of a cacao planter, shaped the image of Brazil in the twentieth century. Hailed by the New York Times as "Brazil's best-loved writer," Amado is the author of Gabriela, Clove and Cinnamon and Dona Flor and Her Two Husbands. His novels have been translated into nearly 50 languages. GREGORY RABASSA is the preeminent translator from the Spanish and Portuguese.