Formation of literature and constitution of the National State

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to discuss literary and historical issues raised by Antonio Candido in his book “Formation of Brazilian literature”, fi rst published in 1959. This work – in re-elaborating and trying to overcome the former references concerning dates and the explanations for the origins of Brazilian literature – presents an innovative character which, on the one hand, turned it into a fundamental paradigm of literary history and criticism in Brazil and, on the other hand, provoked many controversies and objections. In discussing the historical and critical heritage and incorporating many of its elements, the critic reconsiders the historical, literary, and cultural landmarks of the rise – or the decisive moments – of Brazilian literature with the aid of the notion of literary system. Fifty years after the publication of this work, we believe it is opportune and necessary to reconsider and redefi ne the historical and literary demarcations of the creation or the formation of Brazilian literature, by means of a different interpretation of the organization process of the State and the Nation in Brazil.