French Literature Reviews - 2026

W. Tenorio-Pontes, Popular Literature of Northeastern Brazil
Francophone and Oral Literatures

Walter Tenorio-Pontes, Popular Literature of Northeastern Brazil

Paris: L'Harmattan, Latin America Research series, 2014.

228 p.

EAN 9782336007458

23,00 EUR

Publisher's description:

This work is a study of cordel literature, or popular verse literature, whose primary characteristics are its oral, rural, and humble origins. In particular, the author analyzes how folk poets expressed the messianic movements that took place in rural Brazil during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

Cordel literature forms part of a rich tradition of broadside ballads and inexpensive printed verse found across various cultures, where popular poetry circulates among rural and working-class communities. In the northeastern region of Brazil, these booklets traditionally combined oral performance with visual art through woodcut illustrations on their covers. Authors known as poetas populares documented local events, historical lore, and social phenomena, serving as chroniclers of daily life and collective memory for audiences who often had limited access to formal publishing networks.

The late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries in rural Brazil witnessed significant social upheaval, marked by profound religious fervor and distinct messianic movements that challenged established authority. Readers interested in the intersection of folklore, regional history, and popular verse traditions may find this volume relevant.