da Cunha

[TERRY CAESAR]

       I've been reading along about V. but not rereading the novel. If so
many responses can occur over the question of a minor fourth, how about a couple
about a minor character: da Cunha? I've always wondered, why is he a Brazilian?

      I mean, Brazilians are hardly ever characters in American fiction. Offhand
I can't think of another (if one sets aside books by Peter Matthiessen & Updike
actually set in Brazil). So why Brazilian? Is it true--as a Brazilian once told
me--that da Cunha isn't even a Brazilian name?

      Would it make any difference is the guy was Colombian or Albanian or Ni-
gerian? 
                    in a minor key,
                       Terry