"While living in the slums of Rio de Janeiro, Macabéa works as a typist and dreams of a better life."
"In a haunting psychological tale of despair and freedom, Macabea is ugly, underfed, sickly, and unloved yet she fascinates Rodrigo because she is unaware of how unhappy she should be."
"Het levensverhaal van een Braziliaans meisje uit de provincie dat in de grote stad (Rio de Janeiro) verloren gaat."
"Ce roman conte avec une cruelle ironie et une infinie tendresse, la trajectoire fulgurante et l'étrange apothéose d'une jeune fille égarée entre la mort et la vie."
"Belletristik : Brasilien/Rio de Janeiro ; Frau."
"Clarice Lispector died of cancer at the age of fifty-six on 9th December 1977. "The Hour of the Star" was published that same year and acclaimed by the critics as 'a regional allegory' of extraordinary awareness and insight. Lispector herself defined "The Hour of the Star" as a book 'made without words...a mute photograph...a silence...a question'. The tale of Macabea can be read at different levels and lends itself to various interpretations. The book's subtle interplay of fiction and philosophy sums up Lispector's unique talent as a writer and her lasting influence on contemporary Brazilian writing."
"Story of Macabéa, a poor girl who lives in Rio de Janiero and ekes out a living as a typist."