Machado de Assis

Biography

Joaquim Maria Machado de Assis, often known by his surnames as Machado de Assis, Machado, or Bruxo do Cosme Velho (21 June 1839 – 29 September 1908), was a pioneer Brazilian novelist, poet, playwright and short story writer, widely regarded as the greatest writer of Brazilian literature. In 1897, he founded and became the first President of the Brazilian Academy of Letters. He was multilingual, having taught himself French, English, German and Greek later in life. His literary production covered practically all genres, including poetry, novels, chronicles, drama, short stories, serials, journalism and literary criticism. Machado de Assis witnessed the Abolition of Slavery and the political transition of Brazil, with the coup of the proclamation of the Republic replacing the Empire, in addition to several significant events in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, being a notable commentator and reporter of the political and social events of his time.

Born in Morro do Livramento, Rio de Janeiro, from a poor family, he was the grandson of freed slaves in a country where slavery would not be fully abolished until 49 years later. He barely studied in public schools and never attended university. With only his own intellect and autodidactism to rely on, he struggled to rise socially. To do so, he took several public positions, passing through the Ministry of Agriculture, Trade and Public Works, and achieving early fame in newspapers where he first published his poetry and chronicles.

His work was of fundamental importance to the Brazilian literary schools of the 19th and 20th centuries and remains today of great academic and public interest for understanding Brazil and the world. While still alive, he achieved fame and prestige throughout Brazil and neighboring countries. Today, because of his literary innovation and his boldness in social and precocious themes, he is often seen as the Brazilian writer of unprecedented production, so much so that, recently, his name and work have reached numerous critics, influencers, scholars, and admirers throughout the world. Machado de Assis is considered one of the great geniuses in the history of literature, alongside authors such as Dante, Shakespeare, and Camões. Machado de Assis and Eça de Queiroz are considered the two greatest Portuguese-language writers of the 19th century. (Wikipedia)