João Felício dos Santos
João Felício dos Santos (14 March 1911 – 13 June 1989) was a Brazilian writer. A journalist, poet and novelist, his most famous book was Ganga-Zumba, which was made into a film of the same name, in which João Felício himself played a vicar. He was nephew of the historian Joaquim Felício dos Santos.
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Biography
João Felício dos Santos was born in Mendes, Rio de Janeiro. He began his career by publishing poetry in 1934. He produced children's literature, short stories, technical books, film scripts and screenplays and even carnival plots. He was a journalist for over forty years and a counsellor for the Brazilian Press Association (ABI). He worked at the Ministry of Transport, where he also held the position of communications director.
The first novel was published in 1949 about the politics of coffee at the beginning of the 20th century: The Swamp Also Reflects Stars. This was followed by the saga of Canudos in João Abade and the story of the controversial Major Calabar against the backdrop of the Dutch invasion of Brazil. His most famous book, Ganga Zumba, was awarded a prize by the Brazilian Academy of Letters in 1962. He wrote fourteen novels, two of which are still unpublished: The Red Gallows and Sea Routes in the Land of Seagulls.
He adapted his novels Ganga Zumba and Xica da Silva for director Cacá Diegues; he wrote the screenplay for Wilson Silva's Cristo de Lama and José Medeiros' Parceiros da Noite.
João Felício dos Santos died in the city of Rio de Janeiro.
On 29 March 2011, a ceremony celebrating the writer's centenary was held at the Brazilian Press Association, where an exhibition on the author's works was presented and a stand was set up with some of his most popular books.[1]
Works
- Palmeira Real (1934; poetry)
- O Pântano Também Reflete Estrelas (1949)
- João Abade (1958)
- Major Calabar (1960)
- Ganga Zumba (1962)
- Cristo de Lama (1964)
- Carlota Joaquina (1968)
- Ataíde Azul e Vermelho (1969)
- Os Trilhos (1976)
- Xica da Silva (1976)
- A Guerrilheira (1979)
- Benedita Torreão da Sangria Desatada (1984)
- Margueira Amarga (1985)
Notes
- ↑ Marques, José Reinaldo (29 de março de 2011). "O centenário de João Felício dos Santos." Associação Brasileira de Imprensa. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
