O sertão vai virar gente: sertão e identidade nacional em Afonso Arinos

Abstract

Discusses the regionalist literature of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century in Brazil and the representation of the sertanejo as authentic Brazilian. Identifies Afonso Arinos as one of the principal authors of regionalist literature and inserts it in the perspective of nation building founded on the appreciation of culture and sertanjos way of life, understanding the Canudos War portrayed in The Jagunços, such an important milestone recovery, making it important for our understanding of the author's thought. Defender of the monarchy and critic of the Republic, Arinos stands apart from his contemporary monarchists in relation to the sertanejo refusing to identify the region with barbarism. The sertanejo need to be incorporated into the national project led by intellectuals and not destroyed as the Republic has done in Canudos, they form a rustic culture which remained indifferent to the external cultural influences present in the big cities, making it the bond of national identity.