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Ana Maria Machado | |
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.jpg) in 2017 | |
| Born | (1941-12-24)24 December 1941 (age 83) Rio de Janeiro City,Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
| Occupation | Writer, journalist |
| Alma mater | Federal University of Rio de Janeiro |
| Period | 1969– |
| Genre | Children'snovels,magic realism |
| Notable works | Bisa Bia, Bisa Bel |
| Notable awards | Hans Christian Andersen Award for Writing 2000 |
Ana Maria Machado (born 24 December 1941) is aBrazilian writer ofchildren's books, one of the most significant alongsideLygia Bojunga Nunes andRuth Rocha. She received the internationalHans Christian Andersen Medal in 2000 for her "lasting contribution to children's literature".[1][2][3] She also won the SM Ibero-American Prize for Children's and Young Adult Literature in 2012.[4]
Ana Maria Machado was born inRio de Janeiro in 1941.[5] She started her career as apainter in Rio de Janeiro andNew York City. After studyingRomance languages she did a PhD withRoland Barthes at the 'École pratique des hautes études' inParis. She worked asjournalist for the magazine 'Elle' in Paris and theBBC inLondon. In 1979, she opened the first children's bookshop in Brazil, 'Malasartes'.[5]
In 1969, Ana Maria Machado started to write. "I belong to that generation of writers who began to write during themilitary dictatorship, as children’s literature, alongsidepoetry 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 ajoie de vivre, individual freedom and respect forhuman rights known." Her storyMenina Bonita do laço de fita (1986; translated into English asNina Bonita: A Story, 2001,ISBN 978-0916291631[6]) 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 is said to be in the tradition of the great children's book author,Jose Bento Monteiro Lobato.[5] Her writing is marked, in the style of "magical realism", by a subtle mix of socialsatire and fantastic elements as well as a conscious and playful use of language andnarrative structures. In 'História meio ao contrário' (1978), Ana Maria Machado turns the classic narrative structure of thefairy 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".[5]
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 andfantasy to mix with each other.
Just as brilliantly in ‘Palavra de Honra’ (2005, Engl: Word of Honour) Machado tells the story of aLuso-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 lives with her family in Rio de Janeiro.
The biennialHans Christian Andersen Award conferred by theInternational Board on Books for Young People is the highest recognition available to a writer or illustrator of children's books. Jansson received the writing award in 2000.[1][2]
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.
| Honorary titles | ||
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| Preceded by | 6th Academic of the 1st Chair of the Brazilian Academy of Letters 2002–present | Incumbent |
| Preceded by |  Brazilian Academy of Letters - Occupant of the 1st chair 2003 — present | Succeeded by TBD |
