Primary sources and the production of literary works:

the correspondence of the columns “Da Capital” and “Do Ceará” to A Província do Pará

Abstract

The examination of primary sources has unveiled significant insights concerning the dissemination and reception of literary works in regional areas, alongside the robust exchange among the urban centers of Fortaleza, Belém, and Rio de Janeiro, aimed at discussing and promoting these literary endeavors. Within this framework, we scrutinize correspondence originating from the State of Ceará, particularly from members of the literary association Padaria Espiritual, addressed to the newspaper A Província do Pará during the late 19th century. Through sections entitled “Da Capital” and “Do Ceará,” writers like Antônio Sales and Sabino Batista engaged in discussions concerning novels, short stories, and poetry works published in Fortaleza and Rio de Janeiro. The collaborative effort among newspaper editors in cities distant from the Brazilian capital unveils the presence of a vibrant cultural and intellectual milieu. However, despite these endeavors, many of these literary productions have been relegated to obscurity or suppressed over time, absent from the literary canon. In light of this, the retrieval of A Província do Pará’s pages underscores the influence and significance of these sources in reclaiming such historical information and understanding the reception of these literary works.