Repercussion of pulp fiction spreading in brazilian 1930s

Abstract

This paper aims to analyze, in 1930s and 1940s Brazil, the reception of broad readers fiction genres, especially those nowadays classified as pulp fiction like detective, love and adventure stories. The sources used are writers, publishers and intellectuals opinions published in newspapers and magazines of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. First, we will analyze how publishing expansion was led by those genres, as also publishers, writers and booksellers of that time have perceived it. Second, we will consider their opinion about the role of those genres to literacy in Brazil. We will show positions that refuse any value of this fiction, others that limit its function to entertainment or degree to form high literature reader, and those sympathetic that try to nationalize those narratives written by foreign writers and widespread in Brazil of that time.