Rachel de Queiroz (Brazilian Portuguese:[ʁaˈkɛwdʒiˈkejɾɔs], November 17, 1910 – November 4, 2003) was a Brazilian author, translator and journalist.
Biography
Rachel de Queiroz was born on 17 November 1910 in Fortaleza, capital of the northeastern state of Ceará.[1] During her childhood, her family spent a couple of years in Rio de Janeiro and Belém before moving back to Fortaleza.[1]
She began her career in journalism in 1927 under the pen name "Rita de Queiroz".[1] She entered the national spotlight with the unexpected success of her debut novel O Quinze in 1930.[1] She published another three novels before moving to Rio in 1939.[2] She was also renowned for her chronicles, short topical newspaper pieces.[3]
The Brazilian Marines' base in the UN peacekeeping mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) is named after her.[citation needed]
Brazilian Academy of Letters
Her election, on November 4, 1977, to seat 5 of the Brazilian Academy of Letters, caused some excitement among the feminists of the time. In an interview, she declared: I did not join the ABL because I was a woman. I joined because, regardless of that, I have a work. I have dear friends here. Almost all my friends are men, I don't trust women very much.[citation needed]