Olavo Bilac

Olavo Braz Martins dos Guimarães Bilac (December 16, 1865 – December 28, 1918) was a Brazilian poet of the Parnassian school.

Biography

Bilac was born in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He studied medicine at a university but quit in the fourth year. He also tried a course of law, which he also quit, in its first year. Thereafter Bilac turned to journalism and literature, to which he had dedicated his energies from an early age.

Related Topics:
Rio de Janeiro - Brazil - Medicine - Law - Journalism - Literature

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A political activist — he supported mandatory military service and the abolition of slavery — Bilac was pursued by authorities during the government of Floriano Peixoto, the second president of Brazil. He spent a few months in jail, and also went into hiding at a friend's house in another state. Bilac is the patrone of the Brazilian Military Service.

Related Topics:
Activist - Mandatory military service - Abolition of slavery - Government - Floriano Peixoto - President of Brazil - Patrone - Brazilian Military Service

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Bilac was a founding member of the Academia Brasileira de Letras, the Brazilian Academy of Literature. Bilac was known for reading the most important literary works at the time and declaiming his own poems at social events. At the peak of his fame, he was one of the most popular authors of his country, having won the title of "Prince of Brazilian poets" in a contest launched by a magazine in 1907. He was also a formidable public speaker.

Related Topics:
Academia Brasileira de Letras - Magazine - 1907 - Public speaker

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A school in São José dos Campos, in the state of São Paulo, is named after him.

Related Topics:
São José dos Campos - São Paulo

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