João do Rio
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| Pseudonym: | João do Rio |
|---|---|
| Born: | August 5, 1881 Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
| Died: | June 23, 1921 Rio de Janeiro |
| Occupation: | Journalist, playwright, publisher |
| Nationality: | Brazilian |
| Genres: | Fiction |
| Debut works: | As religiões do Rio |
João do Rio was the pseudonym of the Brazilian journalist, short-story writer and playwright João Paulo Emilio Cristóvão dos Santos Coelho Barreto , of African descent (August 5, 1881, Rio de Janeiro— June 23, 1921, Rio de Janeiro). He was elected in May 7, 1910 for the chair # 26 of Brazilian Academy of Letters.
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[edit] Life
Son of Alfredo Coelho Barreto (a Mathematics teacher and positivist), and Florência dos Santos Barreto (housewife). Paulo Barreto was born in Hospício St., 284 (current Buenos Aires St., in Rio de Janeiro’s downtown). He take classes of Portuguese language in the traditional Colégio São Bento (São Bento school) , where started to exert his natural endowment for literature. At the age of 15, he was admitted in the National Gymnasium; today, Colégio D. Pedro II (D. Pedro II school).
In June 1, 1899, with less than 18 years, he had a text published for the first time in a newspaper, A Tribuna. Signed with his own name, it was a review entitled Lucília Simões about the play A Doll's House of Ibsen, performed in Santana Theater (current Carlos Gomes Theater).
Prolific writer, between 1900 and 1903 he collaborated under various pen names with some prominent publications of the time as O Paiz , O Dia (not the same newspaper of today), Correio Mercantil , O Tagarela and O Coió . In 1903, he is appointed by Nilo Peçanha for the newspaper Gazeta de Notícias , where he would stay until 1913. It was in this periodical that, in November 26, 1903 João Do Rio , his most famous pseudonym was born, signing an article called O Brasil Lê (Brazil Reads), an inquiry about the literary preferences of the Carioca reader. And, as indicated by Gomes (1996, p.44), “from this time forth, the name that fixes the literary identity swallows Paulo Barreto. Under this mask he will publish all his books and cultivates his fame. Next to the name, the name of the city”.
[edit] Paulo Barreto, journalist
According to his biographers, Barreto represented the outgrowth of a new type of journalist in the Brazilian press of the beginning of the 20th century. Until then, the literary and journalistic practice by intellectuals was regarded as of little account, a lesser activity for people with many vacant hours (e.g., public servants). Paulo Barreto has moved the literary creation frontwards and started to live from this, using his pen names (more than ten) to attract various audiences.
[edit] The religions of Rio
Between February and March of 1904, he carried through a series of news articles entitled As religiões do Rio (The religions of Rio ). Beyond its character of "investigative journalism", it constitutes an in important anthropological and sociological analysis, early recognized as such, particularly by the four pioneering texts about African cults, which precedes in more than a quarter of century the publications of Nina Rodrigues on the subject (beyond that, the works of Rodrigues was practically restricted to the academic circles of Bahia).
Scholars had pointed similarities between " As religiões do Rio " and the book "Les petites réligions of Paris" (1898), of the French Jules Bois. However, the similarity seems to be much more in the general idea (an inquiry on the religious minorities manifestations in a great city) than in the plan of the formal accomplishment.
The news articles series rose so great curiosity that Barreto published it in book, having sold more than 8,000 units in six years. The deed is still more impressive if we take into account the restricted reading public of the time, in a country with high taxes of illiteracy.
Some biographers criticize Barreto for the fact of, when he perceived the "bonanza" represented for the publication of collections (something that would become common in Brazil in the second half of 20th century), he has discovered a "formula" to inflate his own bibliography. However, an analysis of the collections published at the time of his short life repels such affirmation. First, he made a selection of the texts that would go to be published; and, second, the selected texts had unit between itself, concordant with the general heading of the work and previously justified by an introductory paragraph.
[edit] Paulo Barreto, immortal
Elect for the Brazilian Academy of Letters in his third attempt (1910), Paulo Barreto was the first person to be admitted there using the now famous "fardão dos imortais" (the "uniform of the immortals"). Years later, with the election of his adversary, the poet Humberto De Campos, Barreto moved away from the institution. According to some biographers, when informed of his death, his mother informed that could not be the wake made there, because her son would not approve the idea.
[edit] Paulo Barreto, homosexual
Since early, the sexual preferences of Barreto brought forth suspicion (and, later, gibe) among his contemporaries. Bachelor, without girlfriend or known mistress, many of his texts leave transparently a sufficiently explicit homoerotic inclination. The suspicion was practically confirmed when he presented himself as promoter in Brazil of the works of the "cursed" Oscar Wilde, whose works he translated into Portuguese.
An odd person, dressed like a "fashion plate" (Rodrigues, 1996, p.239), Barreto never dared to defy the stereotypes with which the society labels the homosexuals. However, in aspiring to defend new ideas in social and political fields, his "voluminous, thick-lipped and dark figure with a very smooth coat" (as registered by Gilberto Amado) became a perfect target for all sorts of reactionaries, homophobics and racists like Humberto De Campos.
His presumed "flirt" with Isadora Duncan in 1916 (when she was performing in the Municipal Theater of Rio de Janeiro), expresses this sexual ambiguity. Duncan and Barreto had met previously in Portugal, but was only during her presentation in Rio that they become close. The exact level of this intimacy is a mystery. Rodrigues (1996) talks about a factoid or hype, an expedient to attract the attention of the press, whilst other sources cite a supposed dialogue where the dancer would had questioned Barreto about his pederasty, and he would had answered in French: Je suis trés corrompu (I am completely corrupt).
[edit] Paulo Barreto, paladin
In 1920, Barreto established the periodical A Pátria (The Fatherland, ironically called A Mátria – or The Motherland– by his detractors), in which he sought to defend the interests of the Poveiros, Portuguese fishermen from Póvoa do Varzim that supplied with food fishes the city of Rio de Janeiro. Threatened by a fishing nationalization law decreed by the Brazilian government, the Poveiros went on strike.
The activity of Barreto in favor of the Portuguese colony brought to him a lot of enemies, numberless moral offences (leaf lard with two eyes was one of the lightest) and even a despicable episode of physical aggression: entrapped alone when he took a meal in a restaurant, he was beaten by a group of nationalists.
[edit] The death of João Do Rio
Overweight, Barreto was feeling bad during all June 23, 1921. He took a taxi and, on the increasing of the malaise, he asked for the driver to stop and brought for him a glass of water. However, before the help arrived, he died of a sudden myocardial infarct.
The news about João Do Rio's death quickly spread for all the city. A guessed number of 100,000 persons went to the burial of the writer that years ago, under the pen name of Godofredo De Alencar, had registered his preferential option for the diversity:
- In the organized societies only interests: the high society and the scoundrel. Because they are unexpected and alike for the courage of the resources and the absence of scruples. (Gomes, 1996, p.69).
The name Paulo Barreto christens an inexpressive street in the aristocratic quarter of Botafogo, in Rio de Janeiro. As Graciliano Ramos pointed out, the homage made is modest: they had offered a short street to him (Gomes, 1996, p.11).
[edit] Chronology
- 1881: Paulo Barreto is born in August 5.
- 1896: is admitted to the National Gymnasium (now, Colégio Pedro II).
- 1898: dies Bernardo Gutemberg, youngest brother of Paulo Barreto.
- 1899: in June 1 publishes his first text.
- 1900: starts to write for some papers of the Carioca press.
- 1902: tries to enter to diplomacy, but is diplomatically refused by the Baron of the Rio Branco, supposedly for being fat, mulatto and homosexual (Gomes, 1996, p.114).
- 1903: by means of Nilo Peçanha, starts to work in the Gazeta de Notícias, where he would remain up to 1913.
- 1904: between February and March, he carries through the series of news articles As religiões do Rio (The religions of Rio) for the Gazeta , later turned into book.
- 1905: in November, becomes lecturer.
- 1906: debut his first play, the review Chic-Chic (written in partnership with journalist J. Brito).
- 1907: the drama Clotilde , of his authorship, is staged in the theater Recreio Dramático. In the same year, he was candidate for the second time to Brazilian Academy of Letters.
- 1908: in December, makes his first voyage to Europe, having visited Portugal, London and Paris.
- 1909: in March, dies Barreto's father and he and his mother moved to the old quarter of Lapa (in separate houses, however). In November, he launches a book for children, Era uma vez … (Once upon a time... ), in partnership with Viriato Correia.
- 1910: is elect for the Brazilian Academy of Letters. In December, makes a second voyage to the Europe and visits Lisbon, Porto, Madrid, Barcelona, Paris, Riviera and Italy.
- 1911: with a loan supplied by Barreto, Irineu Marinho leaves the Gazeta and launches in June the periodical A Noite (The Night). One year later, he quits integrally the loan.
- 1912: is launched Oscar Wilde's book Intentions, in a translation of Barreto.
- 1913: becomes foreigner correspondent of the Sciences Academy of Lisbon. In November, makes his third voyage to Europe, having visited Lisbon (where his play A Bela Madame Vargas – The Beautiful Madame Vargas – is staged with great success), Paris, Germany, Istambul, Russia, Greece, Jerusalem and Cairo.
- 1915: travels to Argentina and falls in love with the country. He declares that Buenos Aires is the gaucho London (Gomes, 1996, p.120).
- 1916: becomes friend of Isadora Duncan, during her presentations in the Municipal Theater of Rio de Janeiro. Side by side with Gilberto Amado, would have testified Duncan dancing naked under the moonlight, near the Cascatinha, a little waterfall in the National Park of Tijuca.
- 1917: in May 22, writes for O Paiz a chronicle named Praia Maravilhosa (Wonderful Beach) where he exalts the wonders of the beach of Ipanema. He is gifted with two lots in the future quarter, where he starts to dwell in this same year. He establishes and starts to direct the SBAT (Brazilian Society of Playwrights).
- 1918: travels to Europe to cover the conference of armistice in Versailles, after World War I.
- 1919: publishes the story book A mulher e os espelhos (The woman and the mirrors).
- 1920: establishes the newspaper A Pátria (The Fatherland ), where he defends the cause of the Portuguese colony in Rio. Due this, he is subjected to moral offences and physical aggression.
- 1921: in June 23, he dies of myocardial infarction. His burial is followed by more than 100,000 persons.
[edit] João Do Rio in the Mass Culture
João Do Rio was already portrayed in Brazilian cinema and television. He was played by José Lewgoy in the movie Taboo (1982) and by Otávio Augusto in the movie Brasilia 18% (2006).
[edit] Works
- As religiões do Rio. Paris: Garnier, 1904?
- O momento literário. Paris: Garnier, 1905?
- A alma encantadora das ruas. Paris: Garnier, 1908.
- Era uma vez... (em co-autoria com Viriato Correia). Rio de Janeiro: Francisco Alves, 1909.
- Cinematographo: crônicas cariocas. Porto: Lello & Irmão, 1909.
- Fados, canções e danças de Portugal. Paris: Garnier, 1910.
- Dentro da noite. Paris: Garnier, 1910.
- A profissão de Jacques Pedreira. Paris: Garnier, 1911.
- Psicologia urbana: O amor carioca; O figurino; O flirt; A delícia de mentir; Discurso de recepção. Paris: Garnier, 1911.
- Vida vertiginosa. Paris: Garnier, 1911.
- Portugal d'agora. Paris: Garnier, 1911.
- Os dias passam.... Porto: Lello & Irmão, 1912.
- A bela madame Vargas. Rio de Janeiro: Briguiet, 1912?
- Eva. Rio de Janeiro: Villas Boas, 1915.
- Crônicas e frases de Godofredo de Alencar. Lisboa: Bertrand, 1916?
- Pall-Mall Rio: o inverno carioca de 1916. Rio de Janeiro: Villas Boas, 1917.
- Nos tempos de Venceslau. Rio de Janeiro: Villas Boas, 1917.
- Sésamo. Rio de Janeiro: Francisco Alves, 1917.
- A correspondência de um estação de cura. Rio de Janeiro: Leite Ribeiro & Maurílio, 1918.
- A mulher e os espelhos. Lisboa: Portugal-Brasil, 1919?
- Na conferência da Paz. 3 v. Rio de Janeiro: Villas Boas, 1919-20.
- Adiante!. Paris: Aillaud; Lisboa: Bertrand, 1919.
- Ramo de loiro: notícias em louvor. Paris: Aillaud; Lisboa: Bertrand, 1921.
- Rosário da ilusão.... Lisboa: Portugal-Brasil; Rio de Janeiro: Americana, 1921?
- Celebridades, desejo. Ed. póstuma. Rio de Janeiro: Centro Luso-Brasileiro Paulo Barreto, 1932.
[edit] References
- GOMES, Renato Cordeiro. "João do Rio: vielas do vício, ruas da graça". Rio de Janeiro: Relume-Dumará: Prefeitura, 1996. ISBN 85-7316-078-0. Série Perfis do Rio, n. 13.
- RODRIGUES, João Carlos. "João do Rio: uma biografia". Rio de Janeiro: Topbooks, 1996.
