Literary Exchanges in the South Atlantic : the Brazilian reception of Pelourinho, by Tierno Monénembo, and Verre Cassé, by Alain Mabanckou, in Brazil

Abstract

This thesis works towards building a transatlantic literary network, exposing the perception of African literature in Brazil while taking into account commercial, cultural and social exchanges in the South Atlantic (Luiz Felipe Alencastro, Pierre Verger). To achieve this, we draw attention to the translation of two African francophone works for a Brazilian audience: Pelourinho (1995), by Guinean writer Tierno Monénembo and Verre Cassé (2005), by Congolese writer Alain Mabanckou. How do literary works circulate between Africa and Brazil? What version of Africa is represented in Brazil and, conversely, what version of Brazil is represented in Africa through the medium of literature? How do self-representations and the representations of the Other behave throughout these exchanges? Countless such questions have motivated our work, showing us that these two novels influence the racial discourse that took off in the post-slavery Brazilian society.