Brasilidades

In "Brasilidades," Francisca de Basto Cordeiro exhibits an ardent passion and reverence for the vast and mesmerizing landscapes of Brazil, which she perceives as almost embodying the entirety of South America. Delving into Brazil''s gigantic expanses, Cordeiro describes a land, albeit immense, that remains largely uninhabited. This vastness, in turn, has led some native Brazilians to live in a near-primitive state, scattered across impenetrable and inscrutable hinterlands.

The book foregrounds Cordeiro''s pride in Brazil, not only for its unparalleled beauty but also for the endearing allure it holds for those who venture into its depths, seeking its inexhaustible treasures. As she proceeds, Cordeiro addresses her compatriots about this Brazil, grounding her insights in works by those who have navigated its rivers and jungles. Many of these explorers were foreigners, thus rendering them unbiased observers.

Cordeiro then points to foreign expeditions, some under the guise of philanthropy or science, but always accompanied by specialists. Their aim? To explore and perhaps exploit this El Dorado of South America. Yet, she notes, it is often the Brazilians themselves who undervalue their homeland''s treasures.

An English anecdote is shared, highlighting God''s favoritism towards Brazil, underscoring the notion of Brazil as a blessed land, akin to Eden or the Biblical Promised Land.

By the time of the book''s re-edition in 1943, Cordeiro notes increased interest in her work and alludes to discoveries suggesting Phoenician traces in the Americas. Throughout, she champions a sense of "Brasilidade" or Brazilian essence, urging recognition of Brazil''s profound historical and cultural significance.