In the novel “The Executive and the Shoeshine Boy,” Edson Spricigo constructs an unlikely encounter that transforms destinies and provokes profound reflections on success and purpose. The work follows Pedro Luís, a successful executive who, despite his achievements, lives with a growing emptiness, and José, a shoeshine boy who finds fulfillment in faith, family, and small things. Starting from a simple dialogue in a square, the author develops a philosophical narrative that contrasts ambition and contentment, inviting the reader to rethink values, priorities, and what truly sustains a full life.
The story begins with a seemingly simple encounter—shining shoes in the park—that ends up becoming a moment of profound transformation. How did the idea of constructing such a meaningful narrative from an everyday situation come about?
In the modest town where I live, shoeshine boys were a common job from my childhood through adolescence. Like taxi drivers and ride-sharing drivers, they also appreciate a good conversation. And finally, while performing their duties, the shoeshine boys remind me of: “A Special Moment in the Life of Jesus Christ”.
Pedro Luís and José represent very different worldviews: one driven by ambition and the other by simplicity and faith. What motivated you to place these two universes in dialogue within the same story?
With a compelling speech, even with his limited education, José, the Shoeshine Boy, manages to simply convey family values and other knowledge acquired throughout his life. He transmits to Pedro Luís these messages that the Executive does not perceive in his daily life.
Throughout the novel, the protagonist’s professional success seems to go hand in hand with a growing emotional emptiness. In your view, why do so many people end up experiencing this feeling even after achieving what they always wanted?
Because they didn’t know how to balance what was best for their family, which is the main foundation. I think that if people only strive for promotions and titles of recognition without benefiting others, forgetting about the people around them, when walking down a street, or anywhere else, they will feel isolated from everyone in the crowd. They will feel stranded because they haven’t developed empathy for their neighbors.
The character José João Marcelino da Silva demonstrates genuine happiness based on values such as family, faith, and solidarity. How did you construct this character so that he could function as a counterpoint to the executive?
I was inspired by my grandparents and, above all, by my parents who, despite facing difficulties, managed to provide us with all the necessary emotional and material conditions so that my siblings and I could face the challenges imposed by society with dignity. All this knowing that God never abandons us, but that we also need to do our part.
The book presents philosophical and spiritual reflections on ambition, purpose, and fulfillment. At some point during the writing process, did you realize that the story also resonated with personal experiences or observations from real life?
Throughout the development of the story, drawing from my innate inspiration and imagination, memories I had experienced and events I had heard about from acquaintances also emerged. I began asking people close to me about peculiar events in their lives, including some real or fictional situations that were already planned for certain chapters.
The setting in a fictional country, “Thirteen Caravels,” creates a certain distance from immediate reality. Why did you choose this imaginary setting to tell a story that addresses such universal issues?
I created Treze Caravelas for two reasons: first, because of the bureaucracy involved in naming public spaces, such as squares, shopping malls, churches, and product and company brands; second, because of the literary freedom I have in creating an imaginary world, allowing me to develop plots and share real (or fictional) stories anonymously with readers.
Given that this is your debut novel, what was the transition process like from writing short stories to a longer, more reflective narrative like “The Executive and the Shoeshine Boy”?
The process was gradual. Even before it began inOrleans Academy of LettersI was already writing short stories, always seeking a unique identity and a style that conveyed positive messages. Over time, I began writing chronicles on various topics, which were evaluated by experts in the field when necessary – such as my brother (in memoriam), who was a Philosophy professor. It was from one of these chronicles that the novel emerged, beginning with the protagonist’s conception.
By following the protagonist’s inner transformation, what kind of reflection do you hope to provoke in readers about the true meaning of success and happiness?
Before reaching a conclusion, I will make a comparison between the protagonist and my own life experience. I was very anxious from childhood until shortly before turning 30. This hindered my ability to have a professional occupation. I saw no light at the end of the tunnel. The change in my professional life and in other aspects began in 1998, when I started treatment with a psychologist. In just four sessions, I had already transformed into “another person.” I believe that we are not here just for a short period. Respecting our psychic, physical, and financial limitations, we all have (at least) one goal: to do good to others!
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