The Emperor's Beard

This rich and colourful book is the biography of Dom Pedro II of Brazil, given to me by a sweet and thoughtful Brazilian friend in Sao Paulo.

Dom Pedro - apparently - did everything during his reign except cut off his beard.

To understand modern Brazil, you need to read this book... but be warned, it's over 430 pages and a weighty tome.

That's why I'm being distracted by something on my Sony Reader. A difficult conundrum.