CLÁSSICOS BRASILEIROS BRAZILIAN CLASSICS - Imprensa Oficial

Brazilian Classics
A selection of authors with works in public domain
72
JOSÉ DE ALENCAR
(1829 – 1877)
José de Alencar was the greatest prose writer
in the Brazilian romanticism, and he is, even
today, the most read fiction author in the
country (Iracema, after 135 years, has having
more than a hundred editions). Lived from
1829 to 1877, he was characterized forever by
determining the lines of force upon the Indianist
novel, which, through the idealization of the
native hero, the Amerind, brought about the
valorization of a mythical origin eagerly accepted
by the nation, as Brazil was in the middle of its
national formation. The scope of Alencar's work,
however, included also other elements; besides
the indianist trilogy (Guarani, Iracema and
Ubirajara), celebrating the unique roots of the
Brazilian landscape and people, he described
both the man and the life in the back country and
remote settlements, feminine profiles, historical
novels, and excellent psychological portraits
of Rio de Janeiro's bourgeoisie. The writer left
also an autobiographical essay, in which he
approached his own work with great refinement
and exemplary acuity.
Review
Main works
Excerpt
Iracema
Andira, elder Andira, drank more blood during
the war than all cauim ever drunk during Tupã
parties by all the warriors who right now provide
the light of his eyes. He saw more combats in
the course of his life, than moons ever denuded
his forehead. How many potiguara skull did
his implacable hand scalped before time pulled
out his first hair? And elder Andira was never
afraid the enemy could step on his parents' land;
but he took pleasure when they came, and felt
youth being reborn in his decrepit body as he
smelled the approach of war; just like the dried
tree blossoms again with the blow of winter.
Tabajara nation is careful. The hatchet must
be retreated before the membi is played in the
party. You may now, lrapuã, celebrate the arrival
of the emboabas, and allow they all come near
our fields. Then Andira promises you the victory
banquet [...].
"Future generations will call it a masterpiece"
"Such is Mr. José de Alencar's book, fruit of his study and meditation, written with feeling and conscience. [...] This book
will live: it embeds in itself the forces that not only withstand time, but also provide full bail for the future. [...] We call it a
poem, without minding whether it is a legend, or a novel: the future generations will call it a masterpiece."
(Machado de Assis, “José de Alencar: Iracema”)
The first great flight of brazilian novel
"It was bestowed upon José de Alencar, our greatest prose writer, to ensure our novel its first great literary flight."
(José Guilherme Merquior, De Anchieta a Euclides)
Cinco minutos (1857); O guarani (1857); A viuvinha (1857); Lucíola (1862); Iracema (1865); As minas de prata (1866);
O gaúcho (1870); Guerra dos mascates (1870); O tronco do ipê (1872); Ubirajara (1874); Senhora (1875); O sertanejo
(1875); Como e por que sou romancista (1893).