Graciliano Ramos (1892–1953)
Author of Barren Lives
About the Author
Ramos was one of many leftist intellectuals purged by President Getulio Vargas's government during the 1930s. Barren Lives (1938) examines the psychology of poverty during the drought in the interior of northeastern Brazil. The novel is narrated through the minds of several members of a family who, show more due to their lack of education and primitive natures, rarely communicate verbally. Of Ramos's technical accomplishments, Morton Zabel wrote in The Nation, "Graciliano Ramos is notable among the contemporary Brazilian writers for a severity of style, an accuracy of social and moral observation, and an intensity of tragic sensibility which derive as much from fidelity to native experience as from the stylists---Proust, Joyce and more relevantly, Celine---whom his American publisher mentions as models." (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Series
Works by Graciliano Ramos
O estribo de prata 4 copies
Graciliano Ramos - Trechos e Poesias 2 copies
Doem van de droogte / São Bernardo 2 copies
Infância : Memórias 2 copies
Romances Completos 2 copies
Memórias do Cárcere - Vol.II 1 copy
Antologia 1 copy
Páginas escolhidas de autores portugueses e brasileiros — Author — 1 copy
VIVENTES DAS ALAGOAS 1 copy
TRECHOS ESCOLHIDOS 1 copy
VIVENTESS DE ALAGOAS. 1 copy
Cartas a Heloísa 1 copy
Alexandre e os outros 1 copy
Tio e sobrinho 1 copy
Angústia, Insónia 1 copy
Siccità 1 copy
Fazenda S?o Bernardo 1 copy
Terra bruciata 1 copy
Novelas 1 copy
Infância e velhice 1 copy
Kıraç 1 copy
Todos os romances 1 copy
TERRADOS MENINOS PELADOS 1 copy
CARTAS. (VERSÃO SCB) 1 copy
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Legal name
- Oliveira, Graciliano Ramos de
- Other names
- Cunha, Almeida
de Olivença, Feliciano - Birthdate
- 1892-10-27
- Date of death
- 1953-03-20
- Gender
- male
- Occupations
- novelist
memoirist
politician
journalist - Short biography
- Graciliano Ramos viveu os primeiros anos em diversas cidades do Nordeste brasileiro. Terminando o segundo grau em Maceió, seguiu para o Rio de Janeiro, onde passou um tempo trabalhando como jornalista. Voltou para o Nordeste em setembro de 1915, fixando-se junto ao pai, que era comerciante em Palmeira dos Índios, Alagoas. Neste mesmo ano casou-se com Maria Augusta de Barros, que morreu em 1920, deixando-lhe quatro filhos.
Foi eleito prefeito de Palmeira dos Índios em 1927, tomando posse no ano seguinte. Ficou no cargo por dois anos, renunciando a 10 de abril de 1930. Segundo uma das auto-descrições, "(...) Quando prefeito de uma cidade do interior, soltava os presos para construírem estradas." Os relatórios da prefeitura que escreveu nesse período chamaram a atenção de Augusto Frederico Schmidt, editor carioca que o animou a publicar Caetés (1933).
Entre 1930 e 1936 viveu em Maceió, trabalhando como diretor da Imprensa Oficial e diretor da Instrução Pública do estado. Em 1934 havia publicado São Bernardo, e quando se preparava para publicar o próximo livro, foi preso em decorrência do pânico insuflado por Getúlio Vargas após a Intentona Comunista de 1935. Com ajuda de amigos, entre os quais José Lins do Rego, consegue publicar Angústia (1936), considerada por muitos críticos como sua melhor obra.
Em 1938 publicou Vidas Secas. Em seguida estabeleceu-se no Rio de Janeiro, como inspetor federal de ensino. Em 1945 ingressou no antigo Partido Comunista do Brasil - PCB (que nos anos sessenta dividiu-se em Partido Comunista Brasileiro - PCB - e Partido Comunista do Brasil - PCdoB), de orientação soviética e sob o comando de Luís Carlos Prestes; nos anos seguintes, realizaria algumas viagens a países europeus com a segunda esposa, Heloísa Medeiros Ramos, retratadas no livro Viagem (1954). Ainda em 1945, publicou Infância, relato autobiográfico.
Adoeceu gravemente em 1952. No começo de 1953 foi internado, mas acabou falecendo em 20 de março de 1953, aos 60 anos, vítima de câncer do pulmão.
O estilo formal de escrita e a caracterização do eu em constante conflito (até mesmo violento) com o mundo, a opressão e a dor seriam marcas da literatura. Memória: Graciliano foi indicado ao premio Brasil de literatura. - Nationality
- Brazil
- Birthplace
- Quebrangulo, Alagoas, Brazil
- Places of residence
- Quebrangulo, Brazil (birth)
Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil (death)
Palmeira dos Indios, Brazil - Place of death
- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Associated Place (for map)
- Brazil
Members
Reviews
Memórias do Cárcere estreava há 40 anos em São Paulo.
Esse ano decidi ler o livro do Graciliano e rever o filme do Nelson e eu deveria ter ficado quieta no meu canto porque só me trouxe degosto. Não me entendam mal, são ambos obras-primas, mas me causaram um mal estar que foi muito difícil de lidar.
Primeiro o livro, a descrição de forma grotesca que o Graciliano faz de corpos negros é absolutamente ultrajante, como boa histérica, demonstrações de racismo me causam mal estar show more físico e real vontade de vomitar e foi bem difícil passar por tais descrições. É claro que a esquerda branca coloca isso para debaixo do tapete clamando o quanto que Graciliano lutava pelos direitos dos negros, como se isso o isentasse de um racismo internalizado que uma análise do discurso básica derrubaria em três segundos.
Agora o filme, o Vereza como protagonista totalmente arruinou a experiência pra mim, quando o vi pela primeira vez há uns 30 anos, o ator ainda não era um facho filho da puta e tenho a mais absoluta alergia a facho.
Voltarei a ver quando completar 50 anos, quem sabe lá eu esqueça esses filhos da puta e me concentre exclusivamente no que estou vendo na tela. show less
Esse ano decidi ler o livro do Graciliano e rever o filme do Nelson e eu deveria ter ficado quieta no meu canto porque só me trouxe degosto. Não me entendam mal, são ambos obras-primas, mas me causaram um mal estar que foi muito difícil de lidar.
Primeiro o livro, a descrição de forma grotesca que o Graciliano faz de corpos negros é absolutamente ultrajante, como boa histérica, demonstrações de racismo me causam mal estar show more físico e real vontade de vomitar e foi bem difícil passar por tais descrições. É claro que a esquerda branca coloca isso para debaixo do tapete clamando o quanto que Graciliano lutava pelos direitos dos negros, como se isso o isentasse de um racismo internalizado que uma análise do discurso básica derrubaria em três segundos.
Agora o filme, o Vereza como protagonista totalmente arruinou a experiência pra mim, quando o vi pela primeira vez há uns 30 anos, o ator ainda não era um facho filho da puta e tenho a mais absoluta alergia a facho.
Voltarei a ver quando completar 50 anos, quem sabe lá eu esqueça esses filhos da puta e me concentre exclusivamente no que estou vendo na tela. show less
Even in translation, never did a book have a more fitting title than [Barren Lives]. This is the story of a family considered to be of less consequence than the cattle they herd.
Living in the interior of north eastern Brazil, the family is entirely dependent on others for a living. Uneducated, landless, illiterate, their plight was a common one in the 1930s when Ramos wrote this novel. In fact, it was so prevalent that a whole school of writing developed around it, driven by authors with show more strong social consciences.
This particular family is in transit. Drought has ruined the ranch where Fabiano once worked. Now he and his wife Vitoria, along with their two sons and a dog, are walking who knows where, looking for another ranch that will offer work. There was a parrot too, but they ate it the day before, for food and water are in short supply.
Told in an episodic fashion akin to a succession of related short stories, we get a composite picture of the family from the individual perspectives of each member, including the dog. Eventually the family came upon an abandoned ranch and took shelter there. Shortly thereafter, the owner returned and hired Fabiano as his herdsman. Things should improve for the family, but life is so marginal they are unable to move beyond their immediate concerns.
Although Fabiano received a quota of calves and kids at year end, he lacked the foresight to have grown feed for them and had to sell them back to the rancher one by one. Vitoria would work out how much money was due to him at the annual reckoning by moving seeds around on the ground, but unable to calculate interest and unfamiliar with taxes, she was never right. Fabiano always took home less than anticipated; each year reminded him anew that his fate was to always be a peasant.
Vitoria had one dream in life: to own a real bed. She had seen one once in a village where they used to live, but she and Fabiano slept on tree branches with a big knot in the middle. Vitoria's thoughts included God and the Virgin Mary, but her faith was instinctive and unexamined, offering no real solace. Life did not allow time for reflection and extended thought processes.
The two boys are not even named, a reflection of the very basic level at which they lived. Playing naked in the mud each day, they are known only as the older boy and the younger boy. Occasionally Fabiano would try to teach them something, but frustration at his inability to explain and the boys' lack of comprehension would soon lead him to give up in anger.
This lack of language was striking. Ramos skilfully incorporates it into the tale. The parrot heard so little speech it could only mimic cattle sounds. Fabiano was constantly frustrated by his inability to express what he felt. Even the boys felt it. One day the family had gone into the local market town for a feast day. The boys were struck by this new world:
Lacking words, the boys are not far removed from the animals they resemble. Thought is almost impossible if there are no means to formulate it. This terrible deficit is underscored by the dog. Although nameless, she is a sentient being with her own chapter, placing her on the same level as the humans in her family, and making her fate all the worse. Perhaps the only thing that keeps the five going is the shared basic animal instinct for survival. A very powerful book. show less
Living in the interior of north eastern Brazil, the family is entirely dependent on others for a living. Uneducated, landless, illiterate, their plight was a common one in the 1930s when Ramos wrote this novel. In fact, it was so prevalent that a whole school of writing developed around it, driven by authors with show more strong social consciences.
This particular family is in transit. Drought has ruined the ranch where Fabiano once worked. Now he and his wife Vitoria, along with their two sons and a dog, are walking who knows where, looking for another ranch that will offer work. There was a parrot too, but they ate it the day before, for food and water are in short supply.
Told in an episodic fashion akin to a succession of related short stories, we get a composite picture of the family from the individual perspectives of each member, including the dog. Eventually the family came upon an abandoned ranch and took shelter there. Shortly thereafter, the owner returned and hired Fabiano as his herdsman. Things should improve for the family, but life is so marginal they are unable to move beyond their immediate concerns.
Although Fabiano received a quota of calves and kids at year end, he lacked the foresight to have grown feed for them and had to sell them back to the rancher one by one. Vitoria would work out how much money was due to him at the annual reckoning by moving seeds around on the ground, but unable to calculate interest and unfamiliar with taxes, she was never right. Fabiano always took home less than anticipated; each year reminded him anew that his fate was to always be a peasant.
Couldn't they see he was a man of flesh and blood? It was his duty to work for others, naturally. He knew his place. That was all right. He was born to this lot; it was nobody's fault that it was a hard one. What could he do? Could he change fate? If anyone were to tell him it was possible to better one's lot, he would be amazed. He had come into the world to break untamed horses, cure cattle ailments by prayer, and fix fences from winter to summer. It was fate...He accepted the situation; he did not ask for more. If they only gave him what was coming to him it was all right. But they didn't. He was a poor devil; like a dog, all he got was bones. Why then did rich people go and take part of the bones?
Vitoria had one dream in life: to own a real bed. She had seen one once in a village where they used to live, but she and Fabiano slept on tree branches with a big knot in the middle. Vitoria's thoughts included God and the Virgin Mary, but her faith was instinctive and unexamined, offering no real solace. Life did not allow time for reflection and extended thought processes.
The two boys are not even named, a reflection of the very basic level at which they lived. Playing naked in the mud each day, they are known only as the older boy and the younger boy. Occasionally Fabiano would try to teach them something, but frustration at his inability to explain and the boys' lack of comprehension would soon lead him to give up in anger.
This lack of language was striking. Ramos skilfully incorporates it into the tale. The parrot heard so little speech it could only mimic cattle sounds. Fabiano was constantly frustrated by his inability to express what he felt. Even the boys felt it. One day the family had gone into the local market town for a feast day. The boys were struck by this new world:
Looking at the stores, the stands, and the auction table, they conferred together in amazement. They had accepted the fact that there were a lot of people in the world, and now they busied themselves with the discovery of a huge number of things. They discussed in a whisper the surprises with which they were filled. It was impossible to imagine so many wonderful things all at one time. The younger boy timidly expressed a doubt to his brother: Could all that have been made by people? The older boy hesitated. He looked at the stores, the stands with their lights and the girls in their pretty dresses. He shrugged his shoulders. Perhaps it all had been made by people. Then a new problem presented itself to his mind and he whispered it in his brother's ear: In all probability those things had names. The younger boy looked at him questioningly. Yes, surely all the precious things exhibited on the altars and on the shelves in the stores had names.
They began to discuss the perplexing question. How could men keep so many words in their heads? It was impossible; no one could have so vast a store of knowledge.
Lacking words, the boys are not far removed from the animals they resemble. Thought is almost impossible if there are no means to formulate it. This terrible deficit is underscored by the dog. Although nameless, she is a sentient being with her own chapter, placing her on the same level as the humans in her family, and making her fate all the worse. Perhaps the only thing that keeps the five going is the shared basic animal instinct for survival. A very powerful book. show less
Confesso só ter empatizado com o povo todo depois do capítulo da Baleia, a cachorrinha que passa esta secura de vida com a família e parece mais gente do que eles. É triste, toca na falta de conhecimento o tempo todo e nas implicações disto no cotidiano do casal. Muito do que damos por garantido faltando, levando a pensar na quantidade de supérfluos que temos. Escrita seca como as vidas.
If Graciliano Ramos' intention was to convey the reason that "....to the city from the backland would come ever more and more of its sons, a never-ending stream of strong, strapping brutes....", then he was absolutely successful! Painting the backland family headed by Fabiano and Vitoria, along with their two boys, the reader cannot help but feel despair and an intense desire for change from the drought-ridden, hard-scrabble existence of this family. Simple people, depicted essentially as show more beasts of burden who are following their basest instinct for survival, this family tries tirelessly to survive and get ahead. Unfortunately, Mother Nature and the wealthy, smarter locals conspire to make it almost impossible. Yes, it is a dark, barren story. Yes, it is deceptively simple. Yes, it is profound. show less
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- Works
- 83
- Members
- 2,724
- Popularity
- #9,425
- Rating
- 4.1
- Reviews
- 36
- ISBNs
- 187
- Languages
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