Handwritten letter from Monteiro Lobato (before 1928)

The author of Sítio do Picapau Amarelo, Monteiro Lobato, writes about books and business for Bastos Tigre, one of his friend-enemies.

Handwritten letter from Monteiro Lobato to Bastos Tigre. One page. In Portuguese. 13.5cm x 20cm. São Paulo, without information about the date. Good state. Single piece.

Send the books. As I told you, we receive them with a 40% discount, because we don't have direct sales and we have to put them on resale with a 25 to 30% discount 10% for shipping costs in books? of the House

Save the ? Rio press: a Tigre with ? to the chest. chic!

Lobato.

It is difficult to understand this letter from Monteiro Lobato, except for the fact that he is talking about books with Bastos Tigre, probably in the context of his publishing activity, having founded the first Brazilian publishing house of children's books, Companhia Editora Nacional, in 1925. The last sentence it's interesting: a quote from the Rio press about Bastos Tigre, with a play on words with his last name. However, I lack a word to understand what it is about! Lobato ends with a “Chic!! (fancy), which is perhaps ironic?

It doesn't matter, Monteiro Lobato and Bastos Tigre were two important Brazilian writers of the early 20th century, who had a controversial relationship.

On the one hand, the two authors shared some similarities regarding their literary approach. Both were modernist writers who sought to innovate and renew Brazilian literature at the time, using humor and irony in their works. In addition, the two were staunch critics of Brazilian society at the time, denouncing corruption, injustice and social inequality.

However, Monteiro Lobato and Bastos Tigre had ideological and political divergences. Monteiro Lobato was a defender of nationalism and the appreciation of Brazilian culture, while Bastos Tigre was a supporter of the tenentista movement, which sought political and social reform in the country.

Furthermore, in 1928, Monteiro Lobato published an article in the magazine "Cidade do Livro", in which he harshly criticized Bastos Tigre, accusing him of plagiarizing his works and of having a dubious moral conduct. This episode generated a great deal of controversy at the time, and marked the end of the friendship and relationship between the two writers.

There is no date on the letter, but we can assume that it was written before 1928. A clue would be Rua Gusmões, in the letter's header. However, there is no information that indicates that Rua Gusmões, in São Paulo, had any importance or direct relationship with the life and work of Monteiro Lobato. Over the years, the street has housed important institutions and establishments, such as the first radio station in Brazil, Rádio Educadora, and the headquarters of the Brazilian Communist Party. Currently, the street is an important trade and services route in the central region of São Paulo.

Monteiro Lobato is one of the most important authors of Brazilian literature. He was one of those responsible for popularizing children's literature in Brazil, and contributing to the formation of several generations of readers. He was also one of the main writers of the Brazilian modernist movement, which sought to renew the country's literature and culture in the first decades of the 20th century. As a result, his autograph documents remain highly sought after. This letter, in good condition, is interesting because it is entirely handwritten with a beautiful signature, speaking of books, and by its addressee, Lobato's best enemy.