"The court of Prince Mauritz von Nassau upon his return to Holland is seen through the eyes of Jan, a young Brazilian. Like other Dutchmen of his time, Nassau held indigenous men as servants; however, Jan was his favorite and Nassau attended to his education. The imaginary encounter of the civilized European and the 'barbaric' Amerindian cultures is depicted through descriptions of salons attended by travelers to the New World, rabbis, nobles, businessmen, and philosophers, such as Baruch Spinoza. The friendship between Nassau and the boy grows throughout the years and continues after Jan returns to Brazil to try and find his familial roots. Atmosphere constructed by author is guided by a rich and reliable bibliography"--Handbook of Latin American Studies, v. 58.