José Martiniano de Alencar (May 1, 1829 – December 12, 1877) was a Brazilian
lawyer
A lawyer is a person who practices law. The role of a lawyer varies greatly across different legal jurisdictions. A lawyer can be classified as an advocate, attorney, barrister, canon lawyer, civil law notary, counsel, counselor, solic ...
,
politician,
orator,
novelist and
dramatist. He is considered to be one of the most famous and influential Brazilian
Romantic
Romantic may refer to:
Genres and eras
* The Romantic era, an artistic, literary, musical and intellectual movement of the 18th and 19th centuries
** Romantic music, of that era
** Romantic poetry, of that era
** Romanticism in science, of that e ...
novelists of the 19th century, and a major exponent of the literary tradition known as "
Indianism". Sometimes he signed his works with the
pen name
A pen name, also called a ''nom de plume'' or a literary double, is a pseudonym (or, in some cases, a variant form of a real name) adopted by an author and printed on the title page or by-line of their works in place of their real name.
A pen na ...
Erasmo. He was patron of the 23rd chair of the
Brazilian Academy of Letters.
Biography
José Martiniano de Alencar was born in Messejana,
Fortaleza
Fortaleza (, locally , Portuguese for ''Fortress'') is the state capital of Ceará, located in Northeastern Brazil. It belongs to the Metropolitan mesoregion of Fortaleza and microregion of Fortaleza. It is Brazil's 5th largest city and the t ...
,
Ceará
Ceará (, pronounced locally as or ) is one of the 26 states of Brazil, located in the northeastern part of the country, on the Atlantic coast. It is the eighth-largest Brazilian State by population and the 17th by area. It is also one of the ...
, on May 1, 1829, to politician
José Martiniano Pereira de Alencar and his cousin Ana Josefina de Alencar. His family was a rich and influential clan in Northeastern Brazil, his grandmother being famous landowner Barbara Pereira de Alencar, heroine of the Pernambucan Revolution. Moving to
São Paulo in 1844, he graduated in
Law at the
Faculdade de Direito da Universidade de São Paulo in 1850 and started his career in law in
Rio de Janeiro. Invited by his friend
Francisco Otaviano
Francisco Otaviano de Almeida Rosa (26 June 1825 – 28 June 1889) was a Brazilian poet, lawyer, diplomat, journalist and politician. He is famous for translating into Portuguese language, Portuguese works by famous writers such as Horace, Catul ...
, he became a collaborator for the journal ''Correio Mercantil''. He also wrote many
chronicle
A chronicle ( la, chronica, from Greek ''chroniká'', from , ''chrónos'' – "time") is a historical account of events arranged in chronological order, as in a timeline. Typically, equal weight is given for historically important events and lo ...
s for the ''Diário do Rio de Janeiro'' and the ''Jornal do Commercio''. Alencar would compile all the chronicles he wrote for these newspapers in 1874, under the name ''Ao Correr da Pena''.
It was in the ''Diário do Rio de Janeiro'', during the year of 1856, that Alencar gained notoriety, writing the ''Cartas sobre A Confederação dos Tamoios'', under the pseudonym Ig. In them, he bitterly criticized the
homonymous poem by
Gonçalves de Magalhães
Gonçalves (; Portuguese for "son of Gonçalo") is a Portuguese surname. Notable people with the surname include:
* Adílio de Oliveira Gonçalves (born 1956), Brazilian footballer
* Ailton Goncalves da Silva (born 1973), Brazilian footballer
* ...
. Even the Brazilian Emperor
Pedro II, who esteemed Magalhães very much, participated in this polemic, albeit under a pseudonym. Also in 1856, he wrote and published under ''
feuilleton'' form his first romance, ''
Cinco Minutos'', that received critical acclaim. In the following year, his breakthrough novel, ''
O Guarani'', was released; it would be adapted into
a famous opera by Brazilian composer
Antônio Carlos Gomes 13 years later. ''O Guarani'' would be first novel of what is informally called Alencar's "
Indianist Trilogy" – a series of three novels by Alencar that focused on the foundations of the Brazilian nation, and on its indigenous peoples and culture. The other two novels, ''
Iracema
''Iracema'' (in Portuguese: ''Iracema - A Lenda do Ceará'') is one of the three indigenous novels by José de Alencar. It was first published in 1865. The novel has been adapted into several films.
Plot introduction
The story revolves around t ...
'' and ''
Ubirajara'', would be published on 1865 and 1874, respectively. Although called a trilogy, the three books are unrelated in their plots.
Alencar was affiliated with the
Conservative Party of Brazil, being elected as a general deputy for Ceará. He was the Brazilian Minister of Justice from 1868 to 1870, having famously opposed the abolition of slavery. He also planned to be a senator, but Pedro II never appointed him, under the pretext of Alencar being too young; with his feelings hurt, he would abandon politics later.
He was very close friends with the also famous writer
Machado de Assis, who wrote an article in 1866 praising his novel ''
Iracema
''Iracema'' (in Portuguese: ''Iracema - A Lenda do Ceará'') is one of the three indigenous novels by José de Alencar. It was first published in 1865. The novel has been adapted into several films.
Plot introduction
The story revolves around t ...
'', that was published the year before, comparing his Indianist works to
Gonçalves Dias, saying that "Alencar was in prose what Dias was in poetry". When Assis founded the
Brazilian Academy of Letters in 1897, he chose Alencar as the patron of his chair.
In 1864 he married Georgina Augusta Cochrane, daughter of an eccentric British aristocrat. They would have six children –
Augusto
Augusto is an Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish given name or surname. Notable people with the name include:
*Augusto Aníbal
*Augusto dos Anjos
*Augusto Arbizo
*Augusto Barbera (born 1938), Italian law professor, politician and judge
*Augusto Bene ...
(who would be the Brazilian
Minister of External Relations
A foreign affairs minister or minister of foreign affairs (less commonly minister for foreign affairs) is generally a cabinet minister in charge of a state's foreign policy and relations. The formal title of the top official varies between co ...
in 1919, and also the Brazilian ambassador on the United States from 1920 to 1924), Clarisse, Ceci, Elisa,
Mário (who would be a journalist and writer, and a member of the Brazilian Academy of Letters) and Adélia. (It is implied that Mário de Alencar was actually an illegitimate son of Machado de Assis, a fact that inspired Assis to write his famous novel ''
Dom Casmurro
''Dom Casmurro'' is an 1899 novel written by Brazilian author Joaquim Maria Machado de Assis. Like ''The Posthumous Memoirs of Bras Cubas'' and ''Quincas Borba'', both by Machado de Assis, it is widely regarded as a masterpiece of realist litera ...
''.)
Alencar died in
Rio de Janeiro in 1877, a victim of
tuberculosis. A theatre in Fortaleza, the
Theatro José de Alencar, was named after him. His works were marked by the influence of his Roman Catholic faith.
Works
Novels
* ''
Cinco Minutos'' (
1856
Events
January–March
* January 8 – Borax deposits are discovered in large quantities by John Veatch in California.
* January 23 – American paddle steamer SS ''Pacific'' leaves Liverpool (England) for a transatlantic voyag ...
)
* ''
A Viuvinha'' (
1857
Events January–March
* January 1 – The biggest Estonian newspaper, ''Postimees'', is established by Johann Voldemar Jannsen.
* January 7 – The partly French-owned London General Omnibus Company begins operating.
* Janua ...
)
* ''
O Guarani'' (
1857
Events January–March
* January 1 – The biggest Estonian newspaper, ''Postimees'', is established by Johann Voldemar Jannsen.
* January 7 – The partly French-owned London General Omnibus Company begins operating.
* Janua ...
)
* ''
Lucíola'' (
1862
Events
January–March
* January 1 – The United Kingdom annexes Lagos Island, in modern-day Nigeria.
* January 6 – French intervention in Mexico: French, Spanish and British forces arrive in Veracruz, Mexico.
* January ...
)
* ''
Diva'' (
1864
Events
January–March
* January 13 – American songwriter Stephen Foster ("Oh! Susanna", "Old Folks at Home") dies aged 37 in New York City, leaving a scrap of paper reading "Dear friends and gentle hearts". His parlor song " ...
)
* ''
Iracema
''Iracema'' (in Portuguese: ''Iracema - A Lenda do Ceará'') is one of the three indigenous novels by José de Alencar. It was first published in 1865. The novel has been adapted into several films.
Plot introduction
The story revolves around t ...
'' (
1865
Events
January–March
* January 4 – The New York Stock Exchange opens its first permanent headquarters at Broad Street (Manhattan), 10-12 Broad near Wall Street, in New York City.
* January 13 – American Civil War : Sec ...
)
* ''
As Minas de Prata'' (
1865
Events
January–March
* January 4 – The New York Stock Exchange opens its first permanent headquarters at Broad Street (Manhattan), 10-12 Broad near Wall Street, in New York City.
* January 13 – American Civil War : Sec ...
—
1866
Events January–March
* January 1
** Fisk University, a historically black university, is established in Nashville, Tennessee.
** The last issue of the abolitionist magazine '' The Liberator'' is published.
* January 6 – Ottoman tr ...
)
* ''
O Gaúcho
''O gaúcho'' is a novel written by the Brazilian writer José de Alencar
José Martiniano de Alencar (May 1, 1829 – December 12, 1877) was a Brazilian lawyer, politician, orator, novelist and dramatist. He is considered to be one of the m ...
'' (
1870
Events
January–March
* January 1
** The first edition of ''The Northern Echo'' newspaper is published in Priestgate, Darlington, England.
** Plans for the Brooklyn Bridge are completed.
* January 3 – Construction of the Broo ...
)
* ''
A Pata da Gazela'' (
1870
Events
January–March
* January 1
** The first edition of ''The Northern Echo'' newspaper is published in Priestgate, Darlington, England.
** Plans for the Brooklyn Bridge are completed.
* January 3 – Construction of the Broo ...
)
* ''
O Tronco do Ipê'' (
1871
Events January–March
* January 3 – Franco-Prussian War – Battle of Bapaume: Prussians win a strategic victory.
* January 18 – Proclamation of the German Empire: The member states of the North German Confederation and the sout ...
)
* ''
A Guerra dos Mascates'' (
1871
Events January–March
* January 3 – Franco-Prussian War – Battle of Bapaume: Prussians win a strategic victory.
* January 18 – Proclamation of the German Empire: The member states of the North German Confederation and the sout ...
—
1873
Events
January–March
* January 1
** Japan adopts the Gregorian calendar.
** The California Penal Code goes into effect.
* January 17 – American Indian Wars: Modoc War: First Battle of the Stronghold – Modoc Indians defeat ...
)
* ''
Til'' (
1871
Events January–March
* January 3 – Franco-Prussian War – Battle of Bapaume: Prussians win a strategic victory.
* January 18 – Proclamation of the German Empire: The member states of the North German Confederation and the sout ...
)
* ''
Sonhos d'Ouro'' (
1872
Events
January–March
* January 12 – Yohannes IV is crowned Emperor of Ethiopia in Axum, the first ruler crowned in that city in over 500 years.
* February 2 – The government of the United Kingdom buys a number of forts on ...
)
* ''
Alfarrábios'' (
1873
Events
January–March
* January 1
** Japan adopts the Gregorian calendar.
** The California Penal Code goes into effect.
* January 17 – American Indian Wars: Modoc War: First Battle of the Stronghold – Modoc Indians defeat ...
)
* ''
Ubirajara'' (
1874
Events
January–March
* January 1 – New York City annexes The Bronx.
* January 2 – Ignacio María González becomes head of state of the Dominican Republic for the first time.
* January 3 – Third Carlist War &ndas ...
)
* ''
O Sertanejo'' (
1875
Events
January–March
* January 1 – The Midland Railway of England abolishes the Second Class passenger category, leaving First Class and Third Class. Other British railway companies follow Midland's lead during the rest of the ...
)
* ''
Senhora'' (
1875
Events
January–March
* January 1 – The Midland Railway of England abolishes the Second Class passenger category, leaving First Class and Third Class. Other British railway companies follow Midland's lead during the rest of the ...
)
* ''
Encarnação'' (
1893
Events
January–March
* January 2 – Webb C. Ball introduces railroad chronometers, which become the general railroad timepiece standards in North America.
* Mark Twain started writing Puddn'head Wilson.
* January 6 – Th ...
— posthumous)
Theatre plays
* ''
O Crédito'' (
1857
Events January–March
* January 1 – The biggest Estonian newspaper, ''Postimees'', is established by Johann Voldemar Jannsen.
* January 7 – The partly French-owned London General Omnibus Company begins operating.
* Janua ...
)
* ''
Verso e Reverso
' is the "right" or "front" side and ''verso'' is the "left" or "back" side when text is written or printed on a leaf of paper () in a bound item such as a codex, book, broadsheet, or pamphlet.
Etymology
The terms are shortened from Latin ...
'' (
1857
Events January–March
* January 1 – The biggest Estonian newspaper, ''Postimees'', is established by Johann Voldemar Jannsen.
* January 7 – The partly French-owned London General Omnibus Company begins operating.
* Janua ...
)
* ''
O Demônio Familiar'' (
1857
Events January–March
* January 1 – The biggest Estonian newspaper, ''Postimees'', is established by Johann Voldemar Jannsen.
* January 7 – The partly French-owned London General Omnibus Company begins operating.
* Janua ...
)
* ''
As Asas de um Anjo'' (
1858
Events
January–March
* January –
**Benito Juárez (1806–1872) becomes Liberal President of Mexico. At the same time, conservatives install Félix María Zuloaga (1813–1898) as president.
**William I of Prussia becomes regent f ...
)
* ''
Mãe'' (
1860
Events
January–March
* January 2 – The discovery of a hypothetical planet Vulcan is announced at a meeting of the French Academy of Sciences in Paris, France.
* January 10 – The Pemberton Mill in Lawrence, Massachusett ...
)
* ''
A Expiação
A, or a, is the first letter and the first vowel of the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''a'' (pronounced ), plural ''aes'' ...
'' (
1867
Events
January–March
* January 1 – The Covington–Cincinnati Suspension Bridge opens between Cincinnati, Ohio, and Covington, Kentucky, in the United States, becoming the longest single-span bridge in the world. It was renamed a ...
)
* ''
O Jesuíta
O, or o, is the fifteenth letter and the fourth vowel letter in the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''o'' (pronounced ), plu ...
'' (
1875
Events
January–March
* January 1 – The Midland Railway of England abolishes the Second Class passenger category, leaving First Class and Third Class. Other British railway companies follow Midland's lead during the rest of the ...
)
Chronicles
* ''
Ao Correr da Pena'' (
1874
Events
January–March
* January 1 – New York City annexes The Bronx.
* January 2 – Ignacio María González becomes head of state of the Dominican Republic for the first time.
* January 3 – Third Carlist War &ndas ...
)
Autobiography
* ''
Como e Por Que sou Romancista
Como (, ; lmo, Còmm, label=Comasco , or ; lat, Novum Comum; rm, Com; french: Côme) is a city and '' comune'' in Lombardy, Italy. It is the administrative capital of the Province of Como.
Its proximity to Lake Como and to the Alps has ...
'' (
1873
Events
January–March
* January 1
** Japan adopts the Gregorian calendar.
** The California Penal Code goes into effect.
* January 17 – American Indian Wars: Modoc War: First Battle of the Stronghold – Modoc Indians defeat ...
)
Critics and polemics
* ''Cartas sobre A Confederação dos Tamoios'' (
1856
Events
January–March
* January 8 – Borax deposits are discovered in large quantities by John Veatch in California.
* January 23 – American paddle steamer SS ''Pacific'' leaves Liverpool (England) for a transatlantic voyag ...
)
* ''Cartas Políticas de Erasmo'' (
1865
Events
January–March
* January 4 – The New York Stock Exchange opens its first permanent headquarters at Broad Street (Manhattan), 10-12 Broad near Wall Street, in New York City.
* January 13 – American Civil War : Sec ...
—
1866
Events January–March
* January 1
** Fisk University, a historically black university, is established in Nashville, Tennessee.
** The last issue of the abolitionist magazine '' The Liberator'' is published.
* January 6 – Ottoman tr ...
)
* ''O Sistema Representativo'' (
1866
Events January–March
* January 1
** Fisk University, a historically black university, is established in Nashville, Tennessee.
** The last issue of the abolitionist magazine '' The Liberator'' is published.
* January 6 – Ottoman tr ...
)
References
External links
*
*
*
*
José de Alencar's biography at the official site of the Brazilian Academy of Letters
A biography of Alencar at the official site of Messejana
{{DEFAULTSORT:Alencar, Jose De
1829 births
1877 deaths
Brazilian Roman Catholics
Brazilian male novelists
19th-century Brazilian lawyers
Brazilian monarchists
Critics of Freemasonry
Conservative Party (Brazil) politicians
Brazilian autobiographers
Brazilian male dramatists and playwrights
People from Fortaleza
People from Ceará
Portuguese-language writers
University of São Paulo alumni
Writers from Rio de Janeiro (city)
19th-century Brazilian dramatists and playwrights
Patrons of the Brazilian Academy of Letters
19th-century deaths from tuberculosis
Brazilian essayists
19th-century Brazilian novelists
19th-century Brazilian male writers
Tuberculosis deaths in Rio de Janeiro (state)
Ministers of Justice of Brazil