Afonso Henriques de Lima Barreto was a Brazilian writer and journalist. He wrote novels, short stories, poetry and criticism. In large part, his works are based on the social theme, expressing many injustices such as prejudice and racism.
Background
Lima Barreto was born May 13, 1881, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to João Henriques de Lima Barreto and Amália Augusta. His father was a typographer and a monarchist who had close connections to Afonso Celso de Assis Figueiredo, the Viscount of Ouro Preto, who would later become Lima Barreto's godfather. Barreto's mother died when he was very young.
Education
Lima Barreto was sent to study at a private school run by Teresa Pimentel do Amaral. Soon after, he entered at the Liceu Popular Niteroiense, after the Viscount of Ouro Preto decided to pay for his studies. He graduated in 1894, and in the following year, he would enter the famous Colégio Pedro II. Soon after he graduated, he entered the Escola Politécnica do Rio de Janeiro, but was forced to abandon it in 1904 in order to take care of his brothers, since his father's mental health was starting to deteriorate.
Career
Barreto used to write for newspapers since 1902, but he achieved fame in 1905, writing a series of articles for the Correio da Manhã regarding the demolition of Castle Hill. In 1911 he founded, alongside some friends, a periodical named Floreal. Although it only lasted for two issues, it received a warm reception from the critics.
In 1909 he published his first novel, Recordações do Escrivão Isaías Caminha, a scathing and semi-autobiographical satire of the Brazilian society. However, his masterpiece is generally considered to be Triste Fim de Policarpo Quaresma, which was published in 1911, under feuilleton form, being re-released under hardcover form in 1915.
During the last years of his life, Barreto was attacked by heavy bouts of depression, which led him to alcoholism and many visits to different psychiatric hospitals and sanatoriums. He died of a heart attack in 1922.
Politics
Lima Barreto criticized the political models of the Old Republic and Positivism. He was sympathetic to socialism and anarchism, breaking with the patriotic nationalist.
Views
Quotations:
"Football is a school of violence and brutality and deserves no protection from the public authorities unless they want to teach us murder."