About
Joaquim Maria Machado de Assis, born in Rio de Janeiro in 1839, is considered Brazil's greatest writer and the founder of Realism in Brazilian literature. Of humble origins and largely self-taught, he published his first poem at 16 and his first novel in 1872. He authored major novels such as Memórias Póstumas de Brás Cubas (1881) and Dom Casmurro (1899), as well as over two hundred short stories. He founded the Brazilian Academy of Letters in 1897 and served as its first president. His work is characterized by psychological realism, unreliable narration, and subtle irony.
* 1839-06-21 — † 1908-09-28
Major works
- Memórias Póstumas de Brás Cubas (1881)novel
- Quincas Borba (1891)novel
- Dom Casmurro (1899)novel
- Esaú e Jacó (1904)novel
- Memorial de Aires (1908)novel
Key milestones
- 1869Marries Carolina Augusta Xavier de Novais.
- 1897Founds the Brazilian Academy of Letters and becomes its first president.
- 1908Dies in Rio de Janeiro on September 29.
Themes
Psychological realismIrony and social satireUnreliable narrationCritique of social classesMelancholy and pessimism
Sources: britannica.com · id.loc.gov · academia.org.br