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Ana Maria Machado

Born

in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

January 01, 1941

Website

http://www.anamariamachado.com/

Genre

Children's, Young Adult, Fiction

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Ana Maria Machado was born in 1941 in Rio de Janeiro and is, alongside Lygia Bojunga Nunes and Ruth Rocha, one of the most significant children's book authors in Brazil. She started her career as a painter in Rio de Janeiro and New York City. After studying Romance languages she did a PhD with Roland Barthes at the 'École pratique des hautes études' in Paris. She worked as journalist for the magazine 'Elle' in Paris and the BBC in London. In 1979, she opened the first children’s literature bookshop in Brazil, 'Malasartes'.

In 1969, Ana Maria Machado started to write. "I belong to that generation of writers who began to write during the military dictatorship, as children’s literature, alongside poetry and song texts, were amongst the few lite Ana Maria Machado was born in 1941 in Rio de Janeiro and is, alongside Lygia Bojunga Nunes and Ruth Rocha, one of the most significant children's book authors in Brazil. She started her career as a painter in Rio de Janeiro and New York City. After studying Romance languages she did a PhD with Roland Barthes at the 'École pratique des hautes études' in Paris. She worked as journalist for the magazine 'Elle' in Paris and the BBC in London. In 1979, she opened the first children’s literature bookshop in Brazil, 'Malasartes'.

In 1969, Ana Maria Machado started to write. "I belong to that generation of writers who began to write during the military dictatorship, as children’s literature, alongside poetry and song texts, were amongst the few literary forms with which, through the poetic and symbolic use of language, you could make the ideas of a joie de vivre, individual freedom and respect for human rights known." Her story 'Menina Bonita do laço de fita' (1986) about a white and a black rabbit who marry and have a whole hoard of black, white and black and white patterned children, is a charming book about the living together of diverse ethnic groups. In 'Era uma vez um tirano' (1982) three children defy a tyrant who has forbidden colour, thoughts and any happiness. Without pointing fingers, Ana Maria Machado always dresses up her messages in humorous stories and trusts the ability of her young readers to also read between the lines.

Similar to many Brazilian children’s book authors of her generation, Ana Maria Machado stands in the tradition of the first great children’s book author, Jose Bento Monteiro Lobato (1882–1948). Her writing is marked, in the style of "magical realism", by a subtle mix of social satire and fantastic elements as well as a conscious and playful use of language and narrative structures. In 'História meio ao contrario' (1978), Ana Maria Machado turns the classic narrative structure of the fairy tale on its head and lets her story begin with: "And if they didn’t die, then they are still alive today" and end with "once upon a time".

In 'Bisa Bia, Bisa Bel' (1982), one of her central works, Isabell’s internal dialogue with her dead great-grandmother, Bisa Bia, and her own great-grandchild from the future, Bisa Bel, becomes a magical journey to the invisible connections between the generations, which finally allow Isabell to find her own way. For the author, fantasy also means to expand the sense for space and time and to allow reality and fantasy to mix with each other.
Just as brilliantly in ‘Palavra de Honra’ (2005, Engl: Word of Honour) Machado tells the story of a Luso-Brazilian family which has become very wealthy since their arrival in the 19th century. The reader encounters Letícia, who tries to reconstruct her own story out of the dispersed remains of the family legacy.

Ana Maria Machado has written more than hundred books for children and adults in 17 countries for which she has received the most significant Brazilian awards and many international honours. In 2000, she was awarded the 'Hans Christian Andersen Award' for her life work, the most significant international prize for youth and children’s literature. Ana Maria Machado lives with her family in Rio de Janeiro. ...more

Combine Editions
Ana Maria Machado’s books

Average rating: 3.92 · 6,335 ratings · 674 reviews · 311 distinct works • Similar authors

	Nina Bonita: A Story (Children's Books from Around the World) (English and Spanish Edition) by Ana Maria Machado, Elena Iribarren 4.32 avg rating — 543 ratings — 32 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Bisa Bia, Bisa Bel really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 517 ratings — published 1982 — 29 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Sonho de uma noite de verão by Ana Maria Machado (Adaptor), William Shakespeare (Original Work) 3.89 avg rating — 424 ratings — 10 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Eso No Me Lo Quita Nadie (Torre Amarilla) 3.70 avg rating — 260 ratings — published 2018 — 9 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Camilón, Comilón 4.25 avg rating — 200 ratings — published 1999 — 8 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	De carta en carta 4.03 avg rating — 174 ratings — published 2004 — 13 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	A Audácia Dessa Mulher 3.63 avg rating — 131 ratings — published 1999 — 7 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	From Another World by Ana Maria Machado, Lúcia Brandão (Illustrator) 3.75 avg rating — 120 ratings — published 2002 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Historia medio al revés by Ana Maria Machado, Rafael Barajas (Illustrator) 3.74 avg rating — 111 ratings — published 1978 — 12 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	La abuelita aventurera 3.90 avg rating — 98 ratings — published 2001 — 11 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by Ana Maria Machado…

Series by Ana Maria Machado

Histórias à Brasileira (4 books)
by

Ana Maria Machado,

Odilon Moraes (Ilustrador)

4.11 avg rating — 45 ratings

O tesouro das cantigas para crianças (2 books)
by

Ana Maria Machado (Organizer),

Cláudio Martins (Illustrator)

really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 3 ratings

Quotes by Ana Maria Machado (?)

“Como ler - essa é uma grande questão que vamos encontrando a toda hora nesse mergulho pelos livros essenciais. Ler criticamente é uma das respostas. Significa que não se lê para concordar servilmente em atitude reverente, mas também não se lê para discordar e refutar num eterno desafio.”
― Ana Maria Machado, Como e Por Que Ler os Clássicos Universais desde Cedo

tags: leitura, pensamento-crítico

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“Os tempos modernos surgem justamente com esse questionamento sobre o real e o imaginário, essa desconfiança em relação a certezas que vinham sendo aceitas como verdades e que o espírito humano começava a desafiar.”
― Ana Maria Machado, Como e Por Que Ler os Clássicos Universais desde Cedo

tags: filosofias, modernidade, pensamento

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“Uma parte de mim também não se sente nada à vontade diante dessas escolhas tradicionais. Mas não posso mudar o que já passou. E não creio que a forma de mudar o que ainda vem por aí seja ignorando o que se construiu antes.”
― Ana Maria Machado, Como e Por Que Ler os Clássicos Universais desde Cedo

tags: futuro, pensamento, tradição

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