UNBOUND: A Novel Inspired by True Events

Andre Luiz Alves · Antonio P Bezerra

Sep 2013 · Eagle Star Films Inc

About this ebook

Branca Dias endures the arrest, imprisonment and abuse of her mother and sister at the hands of the Inquisition in Portugal. Dias is a Jewish woman who has hid her family’s religion, but she was bold enough to continue to observe in secret. Eventually, she too is captured and tortured for heresy by the depraved inquisitor, Heitor Furtado de Mendonça. The inquisitor is simultaneously enraged and passionately obsessed by Branca. Despite enduring emotional and physical torture at his hands, she manages to escape from Portugal.  With little more than her wit and boundless courage, she and her children disguise themselves as slaves and flee to Brazil to become one of the first Jewish colonists.

But even across an ocean, the Inquisition follows on her heels. In 1591, Mendonça is appointed official inquisitor of Portugal’s new colonies and chases the one heretic who has consumed his mind and heart: Branca. Obsessed with her capture, Mendonça pursues her for three decades until, in 1593 he uncovers her whereabouts and brings her family back to Lisbon for an inhuman public trial.

Amid the chaos of the trial, the spirit of Branca Dias prevails.

Ratings and reviews

A book that tells a story that everyone needs to know that crosses the boundaries of religion, time, culture and inspire everyone of us to pursue our dreams despite all the obstacles that life presents us. This story based on a chapter of history unifies Portugal, Brazil and U.S. bringing us even closer to understand who we are and where we come from. I recommend everyone to read this book based on a long and detailed research that went to 1500's Portugal and colonial Brazil ending on the way to New Amsterdam (New York). This book represents a piece of human history that we must know and understand. Great novel! Once you start reading you can't stop !

This is a book that tells a story that everyone should know. In the face of despair, our heroine, Branca perseveres even when all hope seems lost. The subject matter is extemely relevant, especially with this feministic movement of our time (that is long overdue) and is a great example of overcoming obstacles in llfe. A truly exceptional book and moving story for all to experience!

I'm starting to read Unbound, recommended by a couple of friends. What a great story, taking place in northeast of Brazil. The life of an unique and strong woman. Very intriguing and well written!!!!

About the author

Andre Luiz Alves (aka Andre Alves) is an author, playwright, fiction writer, screenwriter, and producer, based in New York City. Born in Fortaleza, Brazil, he moved to the USA in 1985 and studied political science with an emphasis in international relations and hospitality management at New York University. Alves has worked in the hotel, real estate, music, and literary industries and helped establish Brazilian music as a major force in the New York club and concert scene. He has made the leap into the literary scene with Unbound, his first novel about the Inquisition in Portugal, which he penned with Paz-Bezerra, and the screenplay Branca, based on the novel. Alves is also the author of three other original screenplays: beat dancing, a black comedy, Contact Point, Leah Smets, an action thriller, and The Abode, a supernatural/horror story. He's currently working on a two-act play Branca, based on his novel Unbound, and developing a television series and two screenplays: The Mark of Cain, based on a reimagining of the book of Genesis, and The Priest, a crime drama.  

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Antonio P Bezerra is a writer and painter who moved to the United States in the early 1990’s from Brazil. He has lived in Los Angeles, New York, and now resides in Miami, Florida. He studied Film Directing and Producing at the Hollywood Film Institute. In Brazil, Paz-Bezerra attended Escola Nacional de Belas Artes. He also studied acting at Jaime Barcellos Acting School in Rio de Janeiro. His professional life took another turn when he received his doctorate in dentistry at UMAN in Mexico, and his post-doctorate at Nova Southeastern University in Florida. Despite the opportunities his profession offers, he felt that art was still in his blood and he has continually been involved in several music and film productions. Paz-Bezerra has authored a book Genealogia dos Bezerra de Menezes, an exhaustive study of twenty-eight generations of his family, published by Premius Editora (Brazil) in 2004. He co-authored Unbound, a novel based on a true story, the screenplay Branca and a two-act play Branca, based on his book Unbound and is currently developing an animated film Daisy The Princess of Mantizal based on his children’s book of the same name.