Must Read Authors: Keeping Up With Brazil’s Literary Scene

Navigating the imperialist discourse that stretched over three centuries, Brazilian literature has always been marked by tension between the mere incorporation of a European tradition and the attempt to reinforce a native coinage. Oscillating the two trends, the literature of Brazil has gradually moved away from a Eurocentric style of writing and strived toward finding a voice of its own. During its long colonial period that lasted until 1822, a number of poets and prose writers emerged in Brazil, which shaped its literary landscape.

If you’re just venturing into the world of Brazilian literature, here are a few authors that you should add to your reading list.

Joaquim Machado de Assis (1839-1908)

A pioneer of Brazilian literature, Machado de Assis was a novelist, poet, playwright, and short-story writer. Critics often draw comparisons between the works of Machado de Assis and Laurence Sterne. These comparisons are typically based on inconsistencies in the narrative style, as was seen in Sterne’s infamous novel— Tristam Shandy. During the 17th century when his contemporaries were moving away from realism toward romanticism, Machado de Assis was subverting the conventional notions of storytelling. Despite his position in the Brazilian literary schene, his works never garnered enough attention outside Brazil during his lifetime.

Clarice Lispector (1920-1977)

A Ukrainian-born Brazilian novelist and short story writer, Lispector was critically acclaimed for her innovative novels and short stories. She was one of the most celebrated modernist writers of Brazil who employed narrative techniques used by Joyce, Woolf, and William Faulker. In fact, Clarice Lispector’s works were most closely associated with Virginia Woolf's as they followed the Stream of Consciousness technique and explored the inner workings of protagonists, chronicling their feelings and emotions, thereby casting a cathartic spell on her readers.

Hilda Hilst (1930-2004)

Hilda Hilst was a Brazilian poet, novelist, and playwright and was regarded as one of the most important figures of twentieth-century Portuguese literature. Known for her experimental style of writing, she brought together a variety of genres, from poetry to novels and theater, with different writing techniques in her long, thereby facilitating her prolific career.

Now that you are aware of some of the most important figures of Brazilian literature, it’s time you update your reading list. If you’re looking for a Brazilian bookstore to get your hands on some of the best books of Brazilian literature, check out Livro Brasileiro.