Tent of Miracles by Amado, Jorge

A very rich and exotic novel... tells the story of Pedro Archanjo, mestizo, self-taught ethnologist, apostle of miscegenation, laborer, cult priest, and bon vivant...Amado's joyous, exuberant, almost magical descriptions of festivals, puppet shows, African rituals, local legends, fascinating customs, strange and wonderful characters... result in a richness and warmth that are impossible to resist. - Washington Post