When we look at the calendar, we see many holidays related to the history of Brazil. We don’t always understand the complexity of this story and how it shaped the country we live in today. But for those who want to learn more about our history, we can recommend some great literary works.
Do not worry. The books on this list are not hard-to-understand scientific articles. They are works written in an interesting, instructive and entertaining language. Ideal for those looking for what to read while relaxing on their next vacation.
1. Brazilian Roots
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The secular inability to distinguish between public and private life, among other themes in this work, helps to understand much of the current interest. And a new generation of historians continues to find in it an inspiring source of inexhaustible vitality. All of these qualities combined make this book, rightfully so, a “born classic” in the words of Antonio Candido.
59.90 BRL
This book consists of only 188 pages, divided into seven chapters. It did, however, become a literary classic and helped preserve its author Sérgio Buarque de Holanda’s prominence in the list of the greatest scholars regarding our origins.
This work reflects results of the colonization process In the formation of the Brazilian people. It is impossible not to draw a parallel between the 21st century country and the former Portuguese colony described in the work.
2. 1499: Brazil before Cabral
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Forget the old notion that before the Portuguese arrived, Brazil was nothing more than a vast expanse of forest populated by a handful of Indians. The country’s prehistoric epic, unearthed by a new wave of archaeological research, includes “lost” metropolises in the middle of the Amazon, vibrant trade networks, great monuments and magnificent artistic traditions.
39.90 BRL
If Brazil were a TV series, its first episode would show the arrival of the Portuguese, right? But what comes before this scene? In school, we don’t always study the lives of indigenous peoples and their relationships with the land that would later become Brazil.
This is the challenge proposed by book 1499: Brazil before CabralWritten by Reinaldo José Lopes specializing in Biology and Archeology. In this book, he shows that many chiefs are as arrogant as kings, and that the relationship between indigenous peoples can be quite turbulent.
3. Casa Grande and Senzala
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80 years later, it remains a classic of our literature, showing with beauty and vitality the formation of the Brazilian people through the mixing of races and cultures. The current edition has an introduction by Fernando Henrique Cardoso.
149.00 BRL
It is a fact that even today we are dealing with the consequences of slavery in the most diverse areas of society. From the division of big cities into slums and luxury neighborhoods, to the urban violence that makes TV news headlines.
in the book Casa Grande and SenzalaGilberto Freyre tries to understand the relationship between slaves and their masters. This relationship spawned mixed and culturally rich people, but it also created still unresolved social challenges.
4. Brazil: a biography
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Lilia Moritz Schwarcz and Heloisa Murgel Starling, with fluent language, access to unpublished documents, and rigor of deep research, paint a full-length portrait of the country and show that Brazil deserves a new history.
Writers Lilia Moritz Schwarcz and Heloisa Murgel Starling set themselves an interesting mission: to write a biography of a nation. Like any biographical book, this book includes an extensive analysis of documents and several biographical interviews.
The result is a work that humanizes our country and enables the reader to understand the causes and consequences that make up our nation, while the wealth of information forces the individual to think beyond the obvious.
5. Stories of the Brazilian People: The Colony
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History of the Brazilian People, vol. 1 A country’s history is often told through great facts, actions and names, the victories and failures that have left their mark on the nation or economy. People, their habits and daily lives, have always been excluded and forgotten without getting the visibility they deserve.
82.00 BRL
In this book, we have access to history that doesn’t usually fall into evidence. talking about Brazilian historyIt is common for attention to be given to people who hold some important positions, such as leaders, politicians, nobles, and generals.
That’s not the case in historian Mary Del Priori’s book. It focuses on the people who lived in that period, their habits, fears and their stories dating back years. A book about Brazilians that can help the reader form an image of the past in their mind.
6. 1822
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In 1822, the author compares different accounts of September 7, which redefined the course of our country. Rather than unraveling the mystery of the cry for independence on the coast of Ipiranga, the author analyzes how D. Pedro, despite all the difficulties, managed to make Brazil a nation of gigantic proportions.
59.90 BRL
This work was one of the most talked about in the last decade. Journalist Laurentino Gomes managed to get a book about our independence on the bestseller list. This was because Laurentino was light, didactic and entertaining, in addition to the wealth of detail that the work brings, which is the result of extensive research by the author.
7. Brazilian people: the formation and meaning of Brazil
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A masterful work by Darcy Ribeiro, one of Brazil’s greatest anthropologists, “O Povo Brasileiro” is an attempt to understand who we are, what we are, and the importance of our country. This classic depicts inappropriateness for social inequality and chronicles the formation history of Brazilian civilization.
65.00 BRL
Anywhere on the planet, when someone decides to study Brazil, they will encounter the work of Darcy Ribeiro. He is one of the most important Brazilian anthropologists of all time. All of the works on this list are very likely to be based on or inspired by Darcy’s books, as it’s hard to think about Brazil without examining his work.
This book brings with it not only a review of Brazilian history, but also analyzes that seek to understand why this country has not reached its potential.
8. Brazilian History for the Hurry
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Following such advice, A História do Brasil para Quem Tem Rusha touches on a topic about the country’s history to try to understand the present and answer some basic questions: Why, from a political standpoint, is Brazil still such a fragile country?
39.90 BRL
In this book, historian Marcos Costa explains: Important facts of Brazilian history in a simple but very efficient way. It is a recommended book for those looking for a light read and those who want to understand the main points of the historical facts of our country. Although it is not a children’s book, it can be a nice gift for young audiences such as primary and high school students.
Source: Tec Mundo
