Romances de cordel
São Paulo, 2002-2004
Sixty Brazilian chapbooks, or "folhetos", of poetry, composed and illustrated by the São Paulo artist and engraver, Guilherme de Faria. The poems, arranged in 4-line stanzas, deal with love, rivalry, moral choices, fantasy, religious traditions, animal fables, and current events. All are traditional themes of the "literatura de cordel" of northeastern Brazil, a genre which incorporates diverse cultural elements, such as the Brazilian chapbook tradition, Brazilian improvised verse contests, medieval "romances" sung by Spanish troubadors, bible stories, and folk tales, including the folk narratives brought to northeastern Brazil by African slaves.Â
Text in Portuguese










