Clarice Lispector (1920–77) was a Brazilian writer, journalist, and translator. Widely regarded as one of the greatest Latin American writers of the 20th century, she was acclaimed internationally for her innovative novels and short stories. She was also a journalist and a translator.
Born to a Jewish family in Chechelnyk, Ukraine, Russian Empire, Lispector fled to Brazil as a child to escape the persecution of Jews. She grew up in Recife and Rio de Janeiro and studied law at university. Lispector began her career in journalism and worked as a reporter and columnist for various newspapers. Her first novel Perto do coração selvagem (1944; Near to the Wild Heart,) was an instant success, winning her critical acclaim at age 23.
Lispector’s writing is known for its reflective and philosophical nature and its use of stream-of-consciousness narrative techniques. Her works often explore the themes of identity, consciousness, and existence. Some of her most famous works include A paixão segundo G.H. (1964; The Passion According to G.H.,) Água viva (1973; The Stream of Life,) A hora da estrela (1977; The Hour of the Star,) and Um sopro de vida: pulsações (1978; A Breath of Life.) Collections of short stories such as Laços de família (1960; Family Ties) and A legião estrangeira (1964; The Foreign Legion) focus on personal moments of revelation in the everyday lives of the protagonists and the lack of meaningful communication among individuals in a contemporary urban setting. English translations of her stories were collected as The Complete Stories (2015.)
Lispector became a celebrated figure in Brazilian literary circles throughout her career, and her works were translated into many languages. She was also renowned for her unique writing style, great personal beauty, and eccentric personality.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Clarice Lispector
Her curiosity instructed her more than the answers she was given.
—Clarice Lispector
Topics: Curiosity
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