In 1807, the royal court of Portugal fled Napoléon's armies by sailing for colonial Brazil. Brazilian journalist Gomes's popular history, a best seller in its original 2007 publication, recounts how a sleepy Rio de Janeiro welcomed Europe's most conservative and absolute monarchy. Prince Regent Dom João and his 10,000 or so parasites found themselves in a beautiful but squalid town of 60,000 people, perhaps half of them slaves. Among those in the prince regent's train were his mother, the mad Queen Maria I, and his wife, Carlota, who participated in several unsuccessful coups against him. Not until 1821, as King João VI, did he reluctantly return to Portugal as a constitutional monarch while his son Pedro remained behind as nominal monarch of an independent Brazil. VERDICT Unfortunately, this book is not nearly as much fun as it should be. Gomes's work (translated awkwardly by Nevins) takes a surprisingly Eurocentric view of the royal family's time in Brazil. The author argues that the presence of the Portuguese court propelled backward Brazil toward improved education, scientific exploration, and independence. Readers might mistakenly think no Brazilian culture existed before the royals arrived. Nonetheless, this book could make good airline reading on your next flight to Rio.—Stewart Desmond, New York