(Waldomiro Freitas) Autran Dourado Criticism
Waldomiro Freitas Autran Dourado, a prominent Brazilian novelist and short story writer, remains a lesser-known figure outside of Brazil despite his significant contributions to literature. His works are marked by a somber tone that stems from deep psychological examinations of characters often depicted as alienated individuals residing in the fictional town of Minas Gerais. Dourado's narrative style is both introspective and regionalist, combining psychological depth with local color to explore universal human experiences, as observed by Malcolm Silverman. This duality is further reflected in his novel A Hidden Life, critiqued by Donald A. Yates for its poetic, yet somewhat derivative nature. Dourado's work often employs varied narrative perspectives and delayed plot revelations, as noted by John M. Parker in his analysis of Armas & corações. Furthermore, his novel The Voices of the Dead is highlighted for its baroque style and complex portrayal of personal and sexual conflicts, drawing comparisons to Faulkner's work by Peter Lewis and exploring themes of tragic sexual commitment, as examined by John Naughton.
Contents
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Biela's Small Crises
(summary)
In the following essay, Donald A. Yates critiques Autran Dourado's A Hidden Life as a poetically written narrative paralleling Flaubert's Un Coeur Simple, yet argues the work lacks distinctive Brazilian elements or innovative insights, serving more as a literary exercise than a novel offering profound characterization or fresh perspectives.
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Autran Dourado and the Introspective-Regionalist Novel
(summary)
In the following essay, Malcolm Silverman examines Autran Dourado's body of work, arguing that his novels and short stories are characterized by a unique fusion of introspective psychological analysis and regionalist elements, showcasing the tension between individual desires and the pervasive loneliness that follows, ultimately highlighting Dourado's ability to convey universal human experiences.
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Portuguese: 'Armas & corações'
(summary)
In the following essay, John M. Parker examines how Waldomiro Freitas Autran Dourado's novellas in Armas & corações utilize varying narrative perspectives and delayed plot revelations to explore themes of alienation, emotion, and human conflict within the fictional town of Duas Pontes.
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Empty Houses
(summary)
In the following essay, John Naughton examines Autran Dourado's novel The Voices of the Dead, focusing on its baroque narrative style and intricate portrayal of the protagonists' private worlds, ultimately highlighting the tragic consequences of sexual commitment.
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Stopping the Clock
(summary)
In the following essay, Peter Lewis compares Dourado's work to Faulkner's, highlighting Dourado's intricate prose and the symbolic, mythic portrayal of Minas Gerais in "The Voices of the Dead," while pointing out the challenges British readers face with its baroque style and intense narrative.