With narratives that awaken nostalgia among fans of Monteiro Lobato’s literary series, “Sítio do Picapau Amarelo,” writer Gerson Montemor portrays unusual situations experienced by characters from Brazilian folklore in the work “Lendas Brasilis” (“Brazilian Legends”).
For example, what would happen if the Curupira woke up with his feet turned backwards? What are the consequences of this situation for the inhabitants of the forest? What seemed normal to other beings turns into a great danger when the guardian of the forest needs to confront hunters and protect the fauna and flora from a fire caused by men.
Divided into six tales, the book also features adventures, mysteries, and conflicts involving Saci, Mula Sem Cabeça, Boto-cor-de-rosa, Iara, and Kauê, a native Indian friend of the forest beings. Under the pseudonym G. S. Montemor, the writer evokes personalities and creatures that were part of the Brazilian imagination, with light and amusing stories capable of evoking childhood memories.
With the support of illustrations by Marcus Maia, the author constructs a literary narrative capable of guiding the reader scene by scene, like a movie script. In this work, the atmosphere of the Brazilian tropical forest and national folklore gain a reinterpretation with stylistic touches from renowned writers, such as Monteiro Lobato, Câmara Cascudo, J.K. Rowling, Jules Verne, and Charles Dickens.
What was the inspiration process like for writing “Lendas Brasilis”? What were the main elements that influenced your stories and characters?
It was an incredible experience to be able to write about folk legends that represent part of the diversity of Brazilian culture. From the beginning, the intention was to exalt and publicize this beautiful theme of our identity that covers all regions of the country. The work seeks to transport the reader to a time when nature was still sovereign over these lands, in a time still permeated by many legends and superstitions.
When approaching figures from Brazilian folklore such as Curupira, Saci and Iara, what challenges did you face in bringing a new perspective or reviving these iconic characters in national literature?
As I am writing about characters already established in the popular imagination, it is always a challenge to try to bring new perspectives without altering their true characteristics. In “Lendas Brasilis” it presents a lighter and more fun atmosphere on the folkloric theme, in which it is perfectly possible for readers aged 10 to 90 to read, understand and appreciate the plots that are intertwined there. I believe that this was the main challenge in developing this work, being able to be read by all ages.
Your book seems to merge elements of Brazilian folklore with other literary styles. What were the influences and references that shaped the unique style found in “Lendas Brasilis”?
In the first pages of the book there are two authors mentioned who are very important for the study and dissemination of national folklore, namely Câmara Cascudo and Monteiro Lobato. The two are, without a doubt, my greatest references for the creation of this work. When I was younger, I was an avid reader of the Vaga-Lume Series books and the aesthetics of the book draw heavily from this source. I also admire countless international authors who wrote about fantastic themes and who are admirable from a stylistic point of view, in addition to leaving memorable works for universal literature, such as, for example, Jules Verne, Oscar Wilde, JK Rowling, Edgar A. Poe , Brothers Grimm, among many others.
The tales seem to explore the conflicts and challenges faced by beings from Brazilian folklore. How are these elements used to bring reflections or messages to readers?
The book addresses issues such as the identity of Curupira, whose characteristics were altered and his trajectory was misunderstood when he sought help to try to reverse this event. Finally, when a fire occurs in the forest, it leads everyone to unite against this fact and makes them understand the need for differences in each of us. In the pages of the book, friendship and companionship that helps them face the difficulties that may arise in their daily lives in the forest is very common.
How was the partnership with illustrator Marcus Maia? How do the illustrations complement and enrich the stories told in “Lendas Brasilis”?
Working with a professional like Marcus Maia was an unexpected gift of fate, because, a year before publishing this work, I had already seen a sensational image of Curupira on the internet and immediately saved it. As soon as the manuscript was approved by the publisher, I clicked on that image again, which I had saved for months, and there it was, below, written the author’s name. Searching Instagram, I immediately found it. When I invited him to participate in this project, he just asked to read a story and get used to it, but as soon as he read it, he fell in love with the theme. He ended up creating a beautiful and panoramic cover, which transports us to a tropical forest alongside folkloric entities, not to mention that each internal illustration manages to charmingly capture the scene described, further enriching this work, to the delight of readers.
Brazilian folklore is a cultural treasure. How do you see the importance of keeping these stories alive and relevant for new generations?
It is well known that popular knowledge reflects the legacy of a people over time, thus helping to build their cultural identity. It is quite enriching to be able to discover and learn to respect other spaces and cultures through folklore activities. I believe it is important to encourage interest and curiosity in the country’s cultural richness among new generations, as this helps us create and maintain our identity as a nation. Teaching our folkloric riches to young people is continuing our cultural legacy that spans centuries of history.
You mention having grown up in a region that influenced part of the stories in “Lendas Brasilis”. How do these personal experiences intertwine with the creation of the stories in the book?
Although I was born in ABC São Paulo, a very urban and industrialized region of São Paulo, and in my childhood I was able to live for two years in the Diamantina region, in Minas Gerais. There it was possible to discover a lifestyle more connected to nature, previously unknown to me. This direct contact with the green, and with the people of the countryside, left deep marks in my emotional memory. Some characters in the book are directly inspired by the people I met in those unforgettable years, where, for the first time, I learned about several folk stories!
What aspects of Sítio do Picapau Amarelo and Monteiro Lobato’s style can be seen in his work “Lendas Brasilis”?
I would say that the fluidity of the text, with direct dialogues and easy assimilation, are direct references to this great master of Brazilian literature. Monteiro lobato manages to reign supreme among imaginary worlds, intertwining characters from foreign fairy tales with speaking animals, while Lendas Brasilis has the tropical forests of Brazil as its only stage. However, the folkloric entities in this work are also able to communicate with the animals of the forest, making , thus, a playful and fun environment.
To what extent do you believe that the book can be an opportunity to awaken children’s interest in the richness of Brazilian folklore?
I believe that a work like this can be a portal for young people to discover and delight in our cultural richness, as I understand that it is of great importance for new generations that they have a fun and radiant contact when discovering new possibilities about of our folk legends, whether through music, theater, cinema or crafts. I believe that this fantastic theme still has space and several elements to be discovered and disseminated throughout Brazil.
Finally, what message or sensation do you hope readers absorb when they finish reading “Lendas Brasilis”?
I sincerely hope that it is a pleasure to see and recognize yourself as part of all this, after all, national folklore belongs to all Brazilians! It doesn’t matter your ethnicity, religion or which region you belong to, in the end, it is precisely this wealth of mixtures that is the great characteristic of our identity! This is what makes Brazil, even with so many challenges ahead, such a beautiful, welcoming and distinct country from the rest of the world.
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