Adolfo Caminha
Encyclopedia
Adolfo Ferreira Caminha (May 29, 1867 — January 1, 1897) was a Brazil
ian Naturalist
novelist, famous for his polemical novel Bom-Crioulo
, which deals with homosexuality
.
in 1867, to Raimundo Ferreira dos Santos and Maria Firmina Caminha. Orphaned when he was 10 years old, he went to live with his uncle in Fortaleza
. In 1883, he moved to Rio de Janeiro
, where another relative of his matriculated him in a naval school. In 1886, he published his first book: Voos Incertos (Uncertain Flights). In the same year, he made an instruction trip to the United States
.
In 1887 he was promoted to Second Lieutenant
and published the short story
books Judite and Lágrimas de um Crente (Tears of a Believer). In 1888 he returned to Fortaleza, but got involved on a scandal where he kidnapped an alférezs daughter. They would have two daughters, and fled to Rio de Janeiro
, where Caminha would spend his life as a civil servant
.
By 1891, Caminha was working on journal
s such as the Jornal do Commercio, Gazeta de Notícias and O País, using the pseudonym
Félix Guanabarino. He also published the novel A Normalista
. In 1894, he published an account of his travel to the U.S.A., entitled No País dos Ianques (In the Country of the Yankee
s). In 1895, he published his polemical novel Bom-Crioulo
and Cartas Literárias. In 1896, he founded a journal named Nova Revista, and published the novel Tentação.
Poor and debilitated by tuberculosis
, he would die with only 29 years old, leaving unfinished two novels.
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian Naturalist
Naturalism (literature)
Naturalism was a literary movement taking place from the 1880s to 1940s that used detailed realism to suggest that social conditions, heredity, and environment had inescapable force in shaping human character...
novelist, famous for his polemical novel Bom-Crioulo
Bom-Crioulo
Bom-Crioulo: The Black Man and the Cabin Boy is a novel by the Brazilian writer Adolfo Caminha, first published in 1895. An English translation by E.A. Lacey was published in 1982 by Gay Sunshine....
, which deals with homosexuality
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
.
Life
Caminha was born in AracatiAracati
Aracati is a city in the state of Ceará, northeast of Brazil. The population of Aracati is 61,431 . It is part of the microregion of Litoral de Aracati, which is one of the four microregions that make up the macroregion of Jaguaribe. - Notes :...
in 1867, to Raimundo Ferreira dos Santos and Maria Firmina Caminha. Orphaned when he was 10 years old, he went to live with his uncle in Fortaleza
Fortaleza
Fortaleza is the state capital of Ceará, located in Northeastern Brazil. With a population close to 2.5 million , Fortaleza is the 5th largest city in Brazil. It has an area of and one of the highest demographic densities in the country...
. In 1883, he moved to Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
, where another relative of his matriculated him in a naval school. In 1886, he published his first book: Voos Incertos (Uncertain Flights). In the same year, he made an instruction trip to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
In 1887 he was promoted to Second Lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
and published the short story
Short story
A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. This format tends to be more pointed than longer works of fiction, such as novellas and novels. Short story definitions based on length differ somewhat, even among professional writers, in part because...
books Judite and Lágrimas de um Crente (Tears of a Believer). In 1888 he returned to Fortaleza, but got involved on a scandal where he kidnapped an alférezs daughter. They would have two daughters, and fled to Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
, where Caminha would spend his life as a civil servant
Civil service
The term civil service has two distinct meanings:* A branch of governmental service in which individuals are employed on the basis of professional merit as proven by competitive examinations....
.
By 1891, Caminha was working on journal
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
s such as the Jornal do Commercio, Gazeta de Notícias and O País, using the pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
Félix Guanabarino. He also published the novel A Normalista
A normalista
A normalista is a novel written by the Brazilian writer Adolfo Caminha. It was first published in 1891.-External links:...
. In 1894, he published an account of his travel to the U.S.A., entitled No País dos Ianques (In the Country of the Yankee
Yankee
The term Yankee has several interrelated and often pejorative meanings, usually referring to people originating in the northeastern United States, or still more narrowly New England, where application of the term is largely restricted to descendants of the English settlers of the region.The...
s). In 1895, he published his polemical novel Bom-Crioulo
Bom-Crioulo
Bom-Crioulo: The Black Man and the Cabin Boy is a novel by the Brazilian writer Adolfo Caminha, first published in 1895. An English translation by E.A. Lacey was published in 1982 by Gay Sunshine....
and Cartas Literárias. In 1896, he founded a journal named Nova Revista, and published the novel Tentação.
Poor and debilitated by tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
, he would die with only 29 years old, leaving unfinished two novels.
Short stories
- Judite (18871887 in literatureThe year 1887 in literature involved some significant new books.-Events:*Futabatei Shimei writes The Drifting Cloud, the first modern novel in Japan.-New books:*Mary Elizabeth Braddon - Cut by the County*Hall Caine - The Deemster...
) - Lágrimas de um Crente (18871887 in literatureThe year 1887 in literature involved some significant new books.-Events:*Futabatei Shimei writes The Drifting Cloud, the first modern novel in Japan.-New books:*Mary Elizabeth Braddon - Cut by the County*Hall Caine - The Deemster...
)
Novels
- A NormalistaA normalistaA normalista is a novel written by the Brazilian writer Adolfo Caminha. It was first published in 1891.-External links:...
(18911891 in literatureThe year 1891 in literature involved some significant new books.-Events:*Guy de Maupassant is officially diagnosed as insane.*Tristan Bernard has his first work published in La Revue Blanche....
) - Bom-CriouloBom-CriouloBom-Crioulo: The Black Man and the Cabin Boy is a novel by the Brazilian writer Adolfo Caminha, first published in 1895. An English translation by E.A. Lacey was published in 1982 by Gay Sunshine....
(18951895 in literatureThe year 1895 in literature involved some significant new books.-Events:* Carlyle's House in Chelsea opens to the public.* Robert Frost marries Elinor Miriam White.* Ernest Thayer recites his poem, Casey at the Bat, at a Harvard class reunion....
) - Cartas Literárias (18951895 in literatureThe year 1895 in literature involved some significant new books.-Events:* Carlyle's House in Chelsea opens to the public.* Robert Frost marries Elinor Miriam White.* Ernest Thayer recites his poem, Casey at the Bat, at a Harvard class reunion....
) - Tentação (18961896 in literatureThe year 1896 in literature involved some significant new books.-Events:* Final volume of Theodore Roosevelt's The Winning of the West....
)