Exploring Portuguese Content in Libby and Kanopy: Rio de Janeiro
Exploring Rio de Janeiro: A Cultural and Literary Treasure
The 2025 World Literary Tour is excited to spotlight the vibrant and culturally vibrant city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil! Known for its stunning beaches, iconic carnival celebrations, and lush landscapes, Rio is also a historic center of literary significance. As the former capital of Brazil, this dynamic city has long been at the heart of Portuguese literature and intellectual movements that have shaped both Brazilian and global literary landscapes.
The Gift of Brazilian Literature
Brazilian literature is alive and thriving today. Contemporary authors like Milton Hatoum, who blends family sagas with Brazil’s political history, and Chico Buarque, renowned not only for his music but for his literary work, are pushing the boundaries of storytelling. Their works offer fresh perspectives on modern Brazil, expanding the literary conversation in exciting new directions.
Rio de Janeiro remains a central point in this literary evolution. The city continues to nurture the Portuguese language, culture, and literary traditions, while also embracing the forward-thinking, innovative spirit of Brazil’s writers. Its role as a literary crossroads keeps it at the heart of global conversations about literature, identity, and culture.
The Global Reach of the Portuguese Language
While Portuguese is deeply woven into the fabric of Rio de Janeiro and Brazil, it is also a language that transcends borders, connecting people across continents. Portuguese is spoken not only in Brazil, but also in several other countries around the world.
The highest concentrations of Portuguese-speaking populations outside of Brazil can be found in former Portuguese colonies, with notable communities in Portugal’s neighboring nations, as well as parts of Africa and Asia. Cities such as Lisbon and Porto in Portugal are home to the largest Portuguese-speaking communities, where the language is central to both culture and daily life.
Additionally, sizable Portuguese-speaking communities thrive in parts of the United States, particularly in New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Connecticut, where immigrants from Brazil, Portugal, and former Portuguese colonies have brought the language and their cultural heritage with them.
Thus, the Portuguese language is not only central to Rio’s literary and cultural identity but also serves as a bridge between continents, linking diverse cultures and histories across the globe.
Our Highlighted Titles
Check out our curated collection of meaningful stories!
O Segredo de Espinosa by José Rodrigues dos Santos
O Segredo de Espinosa tells the story of Little bento de Espinosa who is considered the greatest prodigy of the Portuguese community in Amsterdam, but there is a seed of doubt in him: What if the Bible is really wrong? The suspicion will launch Bento on the greatest intellectual quest of all time.
As aventuras de Mike by Gabriel Dearo
As aventuras de Mike is one of the bestselling children’s book series by a Brazilian author. Since its release in 2019, the series has sold over 200,000 copies in Brazil and Portugal.
Via Ápia by Geovani Martins
From one of Brazil’s most acclaimed new literary stars, Via Ápia captures a twenty-first-century epic set in Rio’s largest favela. \
Cidade de Deus by Paulo Lins
Cidade de Deus is a semi-autobiographical 1997 novel by Paulo Lins, set in Cidade de Deus (‘City of God’, in English), a housing complex inaugurated in 1966 that became one of the largest and most violent favelas in Rio de Janeiro. It was adapted into a film in 2002 and is widely known as a Brazilian landmark.
Thank you for travelling with us on our World Literary Tour
Whether you’re exploring the works of literary giants or discovering fresh new voices, Rio continues to inspire and enrich the world’s literary scene.
Visit the World Literary Tour page in the OverDrive Resource Center get a sneak peek into our upcoming stops, shop past language collections, and plan engaging programming for your library with free marketing kits. Enjoy exploring our exciting stop in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil as part of the World Literary Tour!
