Erico Veríssimo
Erico Veríssimo was a prominent Brazilian writer born on December 17, 1905, in Cruz Alta, Rio Grande do Sul. Following the early death of his father, he was raised by his mother, a seamstress, and developed a passion for literature and music. Veríssimo initially opened a pharmacy but shifted his focus to writing, gaining recognition in 1929 with his first published story. He produced various works, including short stories, novels, and children's literature, with notable titles like "Clarissa" and "Olhai os lírios do campo," the latter translating to "Consider the Lilies of the Field." His writing often explored social issues and contemporary events, reflecting the life of urban Brazilian youth. In addition to his literary contributions, Veríssimo was involved in cultural affairs, serving as director of the Department of Cultural Affairs for the Pan American Union. He received numerous accolades, including an honorary doctorate and the Juca Pato Prize. His legacy endures, as his works continue to resonate with readers and have been adapted into television series. Veríssimo passed away on November 28, 1975, after a distinguished career that spanned over five decades.
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Subject Terms
Erico Veríssimo
Author
- Born: December 17, 1905
- Birthplace: Cruz Alta, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
- Died: November 28, 1975
Biography
Erico Lopes Veríssimo was born December 17, 1905, in Cruz Alta, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. His father, Sabastião Veríssimo da Fonseca, a pharmacist, died when Erico was young. His mother, Abigail Lopes Veríssimo, worked as a seamstress to support them.
During adolescence, Veríssimo attended a boarding school in Porto Alegre, the main city of Rio Grande do Sul, but returned to Cruz Alta and eventually opened a pharmacy. Interested in literature and music more than science, Veríssimo soon opened his shop to meetings of literary and intellectual progressives. His first story, “Ladrao de gado” (cattle thief), was published in Porto Alegre’s leading newspaper in 1929. He closed his shop the following year. Shortly after marrying Mafalda Volpe on July 15, 1931, they moved to Porto Alegre. The couple had two children, Clarissa and Luis Fernando.
Veríssimo worked as a caricaturist and short-story writer for two newspapers in Porto Alegre while also editing and translating until 1940. His first collection of short stories, Fantoches (puppets), was published in 1932.
His first novel, Clarissa, published in 1933, is a coming-of-age story featuring affluent Brazilian urban teens. Subsequent novels included the same cast of characters. Caminhos cruzados, the first of his works translated into English (as Crossroads in 1943), introduced adult characters who served as advisors and adult influence for the teenagers. The plots also included contemporary events such as Clarissa’s cousin heading off to fight in the Spanish Civil War.
Between 1935 and 1939, Veríssimo concurrently wrote books for children, including A vida de Joana d’Arc (the life of Joan of Arc), Rosa Maria no castelo encantado (Rosemary in the enchanted castle), and A vida do elefante Basilio (the life of Basil the elephant). His reputation as a serious novelist was cemented, however, in 1938 with the success of Olhai os lírios do campo, a work translated into English nine years later and published in the United States as Consider the Lilies of the Field. The novel follows the personal and professional dramas of physician Eugenio Fontes and his concern for the poor of his city.
During the late 1930’s, Veríssimo hosted a children’s radio series, Amigo Velho (old friend) carried by the major station in Porto Alegre. During the 1940’s he lectured at several U.S. universities at the invitation of the U.S. Department of State. From 1953 to 1956, he served as director of Department of Cultural Affairs for the Pan American Union (now the Organization of American States) in Washington, D.C.
Veríssimo received an honorary doctorate in letters from Mills College in 1944. He also earned the Juca Pato Prize as Brazilian intellectual of the year in 1967. During the 1980’s, his O tempo e o vento (time and the wind) series was produced as a television serial in Brazil. Veríssimo died November 28, 1975.
During a writing career spanning five decades, Veríssimo wrote works ranging from fables for children to historical sagas. He became one of Brazil’s most successful literary figures of the twentieth century, gaining international acclaim through translations of dozens of his novels.