Amado, Jorge, ah MAH doh, ZHAWR zhay (1912-2001), was a Brazilian novelist. Amado was born on Aug. 10, 1912, in Ilheus in the state of Bahia, along the northeastern coast of Brazil. He wrote mainly about the people of Brazil's lower classes living in his native region, especially the area around the port of Salvador. In a style that is both poetic and realistic, he used the language of these people to portray their infectious zest for life.