On October 9, 1893, Mário de Andrade was born in São Paulo, and Brazilian literature found its most generous builder. Poet, novelist, musicologist, folklorist, and tireless letter-writer, he helped launch the 1922 Week of Modern Art and spent his short life insisting that Brazilian art should sound like Brazil. As the 133rd anniversary of his birth approaches, we revisit his life and major achievements: the poems of Paulicéia Desvairada, the shape-shifting trickster epic Macunaíma: The Hero Without Any Character, and the quietly devastating short fiction of Contos novos, from “Vestida de preto” to “O peru de Natal”. We also trace his legacy, from the library and museum that bear his name to his influence on modern poetry, prose, and cultural policy across Brazil and beyond. The post closes with four verified quotes drawn from his books and essays, including the famous “Eu sou trezentos” (“I am three hundred”). Whether you are meeting him for the first time or returning to an old companion, this is an invitation to listen for the music under his plain words. Continue reading Mario de Andrade