A Travel Writer in Brazil
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Striving for Honesty: A Travel Writer in Brazil Frances Bryson Department of English and Creative Writing University of Adelaide Thesis submitted as a Major Work (Volume One) and Exegesis (Volume Two) for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in English and Creative Writing, School of Humanities, University of Adelaide, December 2016. Table of Contents: Striving for Honesty: A Travel Writer in Brazil (PhD Thesis in two volumes) Volume One Table of Contents (overall thesis) ii Table of Contents (volume one) iv Abstract vi Candidate Statement viii Acknowledgements ix Major Work: ‘In Good Faith’ Prologue 1 The North and the Northeast 15 The Central West 89 The Southeast 145 Back to the North and the Northeast 187 ii Epilogue 251 References 258 Volume Two Table of Contents (volume two) ii Abstract iv Candidate Statement vi Acknowledgements vii Exegesis: Playing God: The Travel Book and its Potential to (Re)design the World Introduction 1 Chapter One: Categories and Clues: Sending the (Right) Message 7 Chapter Two: Fictions, Fabrications and Lies: Exceptions to the Promise 23 Chapter Three: Flying the Flag: Sending (mixed) Messages 39 Chapter Four: Bruce Chatwin: Legitimate Creativity or (Re)designing the 53 World? In Conclusion 71 Works Cited 73 iii Table of Contents Volume One: Major Work In Good Faith Table of Contents: Striving for Honesty: A Travel Writer in Brazil ........................................ ii Table of Contents ...................................................................................................................... iv Abstract ..................................................................................................................................... vi Candidate Statement ............................................................................................................... viii Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................... ix In Good Faith Prologue ............................................................................................................................. 1 The North and the Northeast Chapter One: The Sound of Commitment ................................................................... 16 Chapter Two: Rebellion in the Rainforest ................................................................... 30 Chapter Three: The Sisterhood of Good Death ........................................................... 45 Chapter Four: Goddess of the Sea ............................................................................... 57 Chapter Five: War on Jerusalem .................................................................................. 70 Interlude: Folk Carnaval ............................................................................................. 82 The Central West Chapter Six: City of Hope............................................................................................ 90 Chapter Seven: Valley of the Dawn........................................................................... 102 Chapter Eight: Replaying the Reconquista ................................................................ 113 Chapter Nine: Peddling Hope .................................................................................... 128 Interlude: True Virgins .............................................................................................. 139 iv The Southeast Chapter Ten: The Little Cripple ................................................................................. 146 Chapter Eleven: Father of Flight................................................................................ 154 Chapter Twelve: Dictated by the Dead ...................................................................... 161 Chapter Thirteen The Candelária Massacre ............................................................... 172 Interlude: Street Carnaval .......................................................................................... 180 Back to the North and the Northeast Chapter Fourteen: Dancing with the Gods................................................................. 188 Chapter Fifteen: King of the Badlands ...................................................................... 198 Chapter Sixteen: Capital of Faith ............................................................................... 208 Chapter Seventeen: Gandhi of the Amazon ............................................................... 221 Chapter Eighteen: Among the Believers.................................................................... 232 Chapter Nineteen: Carnaval Parade ........................................................................... 244 Epilogue ......................................................................................................................... 251 References ...................................................................................................................... 258 v Abstract Striving for Honesty: A Travel Writer in Brazil The thesis comprises a book-length, market-orientated, non-fiction account of Brazil written from the perspective of an Australian woman who travelled in that country in the period leading up to the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Olympic Games, together with a related exegesis that investigates the reader’s expectations and other literary and ethical considerations associated with the sub-genre of the ‘travel book’. Major Work: ‘In Good Faith’ On a number of trips, between 2006 and 2013, the author travelled to and across Brazil. This experience forms the basis for the major work, ‘In Good Faith’, which explores elements of the culture that unify and diversify Brazilians in an attempt to better understand this colourful and contradictory nation. Through an exploration of what and how Brazilians celebrate and what and who they do (and don’t) commemorate, the author seeks to ‘know’ Brazil, to find out what makes Brazilians Brazilian and present her findings to her audience. She seeks to show how Brazil’s people make meaning and sense of the world. The resultant text draws on history, philosophy, anthropology, sociology, the travel writing of others and travel writing theory to help explain and bring to life the events and encounters she experienced in small backlands towns through to the biggest Brazilian cities. Exegesis: ‘Playing God: the Travel Book and its Potential to (Re)design the World’ The accompanying exegesis explores the question of whether honesty — and thus authorial integrity — is possible for the travel writer. Over recent decades there has been polarising vi debate about the role of, and the border between, fact and fiction in creative non-fiction in general and the travel book in particular. What is it that the reader of a ‘travel book’ reasonably expects? After examining a range of definitions of travel books and applying a modified version of Philippe Lejeune’s definition of, and criteria for, a work of autobiography, the exegesis shows that the ‘simple authorial promise’ from the writer of a travel book to her reader is that the writer aims for factual accuracy. But there are more complex promises to be found in modern travel books (and works of creative non-fiction generally), it is argued, that allow for deviations from factual accuracy or presenting characters, events and other details in ways other than how they happened. The exegesis explores the circumstances that allow the travel book to be included in the category of creative non-fiction while not confounding the reader’s expectation that she is reading an honest, if not factually accurate, account. It examines some of the misrepresentations notoriously told by travel writers over the centuries both intentionally and unintentionally. The paratexts of classic travel books by Robyn Davidson, Bill Bryson, Robert Byron, and Bruce Chatwin are considered while working through these issues. The author’s own practice-led research on this question is demonstrated in her major work, ‘In Good Faith’. The exegesis considers the grounds on which the deviations from factual accuracy — the fictions — that can be found in In Good Faith should be regarded as legitimate or not. vii Candidate Statement I certify that this work contains no material which has been accepted for the award of any other degree or diploma in my name in any university or other tertiary institution and, to the best of my knowledge and belief, contains no material previously published or written by another person, except where due reference has been made in the text. In addition, I certify that no part of this work will, in the future, be used in a submission in my name for any other degree or diploma in any university or other tertiary institution without the prior approval of the University of Adelaide and where applicable, any partner institution responsible for the joint award of this degree. I give consent to this copy of my thesis, when deposited in the University Library, being made available for loan and photocopying, subject to the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. I also give permission for the digital version of my thesis to be made available on the web, via the University's digital research repository, the Library Search and also through web search engines, unless permission has been granted by the University to restrict access for a period of time. Signed ……………………………………………… viii Acknowledgements During the writing of this thesis I have become indebted to the following: My principal supervisor,