Camilo Castelo Branco
Camilo Castelo Branco was a notable 19th-century Portuguese writer, born in Lisbon to an illegitimate union. Orphaned at a young age, he was raised by family members and received an education influenced by provincial priests, focusing on religion and classic literature. As a young adult, he embraced a bohemian lifestyle, becoming actively involved in writing and experiencing tumultuous personal relationships, including a significant affair that led to his imprisonment. After his release, he married Ana Placid and had two sons, facing challenges in his family life, particularly with one son suffering from mental disabilities. Castelo Branco is renowned for his romantic novels that vividly depict Portuguese life, with his most acclaimed work being "A Brasileira de Prazins," published in 1882. Despite his literary success, he struggled with declining health and ultimately took his own life in 1890 due to blindness. His legacy endures through his extensive contributions to literature, encompassing novels, poetry, and literary criticism.
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Subject Terms
Camilo Castelo Branco
Author
- Born: March 16, 1825
- Birthplace: Lisbon, Portugal
- Died: June 1, 1890
- Place of death: Portugal
Biography
Camilo Castelo Branco was born in Lisbon, Portugal, the illegitimate son of Manuel Joaquin Botelho. When he was only a year old, his mother died, and he was adopted by his natural father. By the age of ten, he was an orphan. After the death of his father, Castelo Branco went to live with an aunt and later with an older sister. He was taught by provincial priests, who educated him in religion and Portuguese classic literature, as well as Latin and French.
As a young adult, Castelo Branco led a bohemian life, spending his time in coffeehouses and dedicating himself to writing. He had an affair with a married woman, for which he was imprisoned. After his release from prison, he lived with the woman, Ana Placid, and eventually married her. He had two sons, one of whom suffered from mental retardation. The other son was a disappointment to his father.
Castelo Branco is best known for his romantic novels of Portuguese life. He was a prolific writer of novels, poetry, and literary criticism. His best-known novel,A Brasileira de Prazins, was published in 1882, near the end of his life. Suffering from blindness, he took his own life in 1890.