In the beginning of this story, Tristao, a black 19-year-old street survivor, spots Isabel, a beautiful and rich white girl, on a beach in Rio de Janeiro. They fall in love and live out their sexual fantasies. Their relationship consists of equal doses of pleasure and pain. In this hot-blooded and adventuresome version of the myth of Tristan and Iseult, John Updike reveals the fierce energy of romantic love. "Brazil" makes it clear that those who believe their love is special are bound to have great adventures — ones going beyond their wildest dreams.