Re-release of Benedicto Monteiro's work marks the 2nd day of the Pan-Amazonian Book Fair

The stand of the Official Press of the State of Pará (IOE) was the stage, on Sunday (17), for one of the most remarkable moments of the second day of the 28th Pan-Amazonian Book Fair and Multivoices, held at Hangar. The Public Publisher Dalcídio Jurandir, linked to the IOE, promoted the re-release of Transtempo, an autobiographical novel by Benedicto Monteiro (1924/2008). The work rescues the life and resistance journey of the Pará writer.

The Book Fair gathers a large audience and runs until the 22nd, with free entry promoted by the State Government, through Secult.

Memory and resistance

Born in Alenquer in 1924, Benedicto Monteiro was a writer, journalist, lawyer, and politician. Recognized for his literary style linked to the Amazonian imaginary and the struggle for freedom, he also stood out for the political role he played in defense of democracy.

In the book Transtempo, originally released in 1993, the author narrates episodes of his life from the perspective of persecution and imprisonment during the Military Dictatorship in 1964, a period in which he was censored, tortured, and had his political rights suspended for over a decade.

After leaving prison, he dedicated himself to agrarian law and literature. Benedicto published reference works such as Agrarian Law and Land Process, as well as poetry and fiction books. His short story book 'Carro dos Milagres' received the award from the Pará Academy of Letters, and the novel 'A Terceira Margem' was nationally recognized by the Cultural Foundation of the Federal District (DF). Even while battling cancer, he managed to complete and release 'O Homem Rio', shortly before passing away in June 2008.

Recognition at the Fair

The president of IOE, Jorge Panzera, emphasized the relevance of Benedicto's work in the current context: “We had a commitment to the Centenary of Benedicto, but his importance goes beyond the date. His literary production dives into the Amazonian imaginary like few others, and his political trajectory represents the resistance for democracy. In a country that reaffirms this value today, honoring him is to reaffirm our memory and identity,” he stated.

The re-release of Transtempo was attended by the writer's daughters, Duty and Wanda Monteiro, the latter being honored at this edition of the Fair. For Wanda, the action represents a fundamental rescue: “The significance of this book is the preservation of memory, which the Official Press has valued by reissuing works by Pará authors. Last year we celebrated Benedicto's Centenary, and the publication of his tetralogy, which will be gradually released by the IOE, is one of the most important tributes he could receive,” she stated.

The coordinator of the Dalcídio Jurandir Publisher, Moisés Alves, highlighted that the expectation is to launch Verde Vago Mundo, the second part of the tetralogy, still this semester. “It is a historical recovery of an essential author for Amazonian and Brazilian literature,” he said.

Program of the Dalcídio Jurandir Publisher

The re-release of Transtempo is part of the programming of the Public Publisher Dalcídio Jurandir at the 28th Pan-Amazonian Book Fair. Until Friday (22), 14 new titles will be launched. This Monday (18), Plácido e o Círio, by Edilberto Silva, and Meu Livro Caiu, an environmental trilogy by Heliana Barriga, are scheduled.

On Tuesday (19), at 6 PM, the Publisher celebrates six years of existence with a long-awaited moment: the re-release of Chove nos Campos de Cachoeira, by Dalcídio Jurandir, the first volume of the Cycle of the Extreme North, a work that returns to the catalog after years of waiting.

Created by the IOE in 2019, the Public Publisher Dalcídio Jurandir has been consolidating its mission to value Pará writers and promote Amazonian literary production, rescuing fundamental names like Dalcídio and Benedicto Monteiro, alongside new talents.