Vidas Secas (translated as Barren Lives, although seca literally means dry) is a novel by twentieth-century Brazilian writer Graciliano Ramos, written in 1938. It tells the cyclical story of a family of five: Fabiano, the father; Sinhá Vitória, the mother; two sons (just called boys) and their dog called Baleia (whale in Portuguese) in the poverty stricken and arid Brazilian northeast. One of the distinguishing characteristics of the book is that it is written in said cyclical manner, making it possible to read the first chapter as a continuation of the last chapter, reflecting the cycle of poverty and desolation in the Sertão. Another distinguishing characteristic is that the dog Baleia is considered the most sensible and human character.
It is often considered amongst the most important works in Brazilian literature, with a “dry”, concise style of writing. Here is a customer review placed online at Amazon.com
“Barren Lives” deals with the essence of human souls, when there is nothing left to believe in, nothing left to look foward to, nothing to relish, nothing to praise, when it all comes down not to being humans, as we’re not, but to being animals. It sounds and looks very deep and poetic, but the strength of this novel comes from its veracity. It doesn’t make us readers wonder about our fragility or our values. It wants to sting us with the indignation of living our mediocre lives. It exposes human mediocrity. Far beyond social critic, it is a social attack. Ramos is dry: he saves up words, writing solely what’s essential. He would condense it even more, to short sentences, little phrases, single words. He wouldn’t even write, if he had the chance. A real genius of literature who has captured sentiments with completely detachment, subverting his own magistral reasoning. A book that MUST be read, although I couldn’t trust an English version of it.”
Film
Vidas Secas was adapted into a highly praised film by Nelson Pereira dos Santos, in 1963, and would become a landmark for the Cinema Novo movement. I recently saw the film and found it enlightening as far as how life really was/is in the arid Northeast. If you are interested in seeing it with English subs, don’t tell anyone but Youtube most likely has it in 10 parts…unfortunately, I found this out after having seen the film.
Tags: arid northeast, barren lives, brazilian literature, eyes on brazil, graciliano ramos, nelson pereira dos santos, vidas secas
